A fiction dumping ground.

My Blood Red Rose - Chapter Five.

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:57:30 GMT

Title: My Blood Red Rose
Author: Last_of_the_few (Psst...that's me!)
Chapter: 5 // ?
Genre: AU, Angst, Vampires
Rating: R for bloodsucking and evil Nino!
Group: Arashi (mainly Nino, Aiba and Sho right now.)
Disclaimer: I'm not Johnny. I own nothing.

Summery: Just when Aiba thinks he's come to terms with everything, he must face up to a whole new problem. Meanwhile, Ninos put a whole new plan in motion to ensure time with his Ohno.

Authors Note: Another chance for me to say sorry for this taking so long. Real life interfered again. Hope you'll enjoy this chapter too. Remember when I said I felt sorry for Nino? Yeah, scrap that...he's a scheming little bastard. :)
A huge truck full of thanks for my amazing beta maiaide . Without her awesome skills, this story would suck! Thanks! <3

“I don't care if it's difficult, just get it.”
The voice on the other end of the phone muttered something angrily.

“What? Just get it. I don't care if you have to break down every damn door in the place, just make sure you get it to me by the normal time.”
In the kitchen of his apartment, Nino stalked up and down listening to the man on the other end of the line make pathetic excuses for his lack of ability.

             “It's simple: you get it, I don't kill you. You fail... well, I think you can see where this leads, right?”
             Nino leaned heavily on the edge of the sink, staring down at the polished surface beneath him. He made a sound somewhere between a growl and a cough and slammed the phone shut in his hand.
             Last night’s meal had done nothing to calm his rage. In fact it had only made it worse. Ohno’s scent had been all over Toma. Sure, he'd probably showered but Nino could still smell it. That faint, sweet scent belonged to one person alone. It drove him crazy to smell it on anyone else. They didn't deserve it, no one was worthy of it. He'd taken his frustrations out on Toma, drank from him until he could feel his heart begin to stutter in his chest. He had wanted to kill him, take so much that nothing remained but an empty shell. That way, Toma would never have the luxury of getting close to Ohno. Somehow though, he'd stopped himself. He'd left the other man unconscious on the floor, splashed with his own blood and stinking of fear. No doubt he'd wake eventually, cursing Nino for everything, but that was just the way things worked. The way they'd always worked.
             It felt like so long ago, when he'd first used Toma. It felt like another time, one where that was so much easier and simpler.
             He could still vividly remember the look on Toma's face as the younger man had walked into the dressing room looking for his mislaid belt. Instead he'd found Nino wrapped around a poor junior, blood spilling slowly onto the floor, his tongue lapping at the trickle that was staining his own clothes bright crimson as the young boy cried his name over and over. It was only the tiny squeak that Toma had let out that told Nino he’d been caught in the act. He'd reluctantly let go of his dinner to face the newcomer, only to find himself being stared at with a mix of fear, dismay and a dangerous curiosity. No one had ever disturbed him in the middle of a meal before. He felt anger surge at the interruption; he was going to loose it, shout until Toma ran for his life, but at the last minute, maybe because he saw Toma briefly bite his own lower lip, he changed his mind. He let the poor junior drop to his knees, all thoughts of the young boy forgotten, as he advanced on Toma.
            Chinen had slipped to the floor when Nino pulled away, soft whimpers escaping from his parted lips as he watched Nino abandon him in favour of the man in the doorway. Blood still ran from the wounds in his neck and his hands were shaking. His body screamed out in protest at the loss of contact with the vampire, but Chinen could do nothing. His legs wouldn't hold his weight, and his voice was lost somewhere deep within him. Instead, through vision that was still blurry, he looked on helplessly as Nino found himself a new toy.
Nino could still remember his words, the way Toma was staring at the blood on his lips, the way there was something so dark in those eyes.
            “What have you seen?” Nino had asked him.
            “I...I don't know, you tell me.” Toma replied.
            Nino had laughed as he stood nose to nose with the man. He'd pushed the door behind him closed, leaving one hand upon its cool surface just close enough to Toma's head for him to tug lightly on his hair.
            He'd licked lazily at the blood on his lips as Chinen whimpered on the floor, hand held out as he craved contact with the vampire again. Nino could remember how Toma's breath had hitched in his throat at the subtle movement his tongue had made across his blood-stained lips. He'd smirked then, knowing the prize was already his.
            “You’re curious aren't you? You want to know what it feels like.” He stole a glance back at the young boy, now curled into a ball in the corner and smirked. Chinen had served his purpose. His blood had been sweet and pure, but now he craved something more, something that maybe Toma's blood could provide.
           “Well?”
           Toma had remained silent as Nino leaned closer and let his fingers play around the other man’s collar. Toma had tensed under his touch, but he didn't pull away.
           It was the only sign Nino needed but Toma had given him more. As he leaned against the other man, he noticed another sign that Toma was most definitely not about to run: with a small laugh, he'd bucked his hips in such a way that Toma had let out a sharp breath Nino was sure he wasn't aware he'd even been holding.
           “I'd never have guessed Toma-chan,” he'd purred, “What a broken man you are, turned on by this.”
           Toma never said a word as Nino had fed from him that first time. Chinen had looked on, knowing his time was over, but vowing he'd find a way to get Nino to come back to him eventually and if he couldn't, he'd make him pay for dropping him so easily.
           It had been a while until Nino had questioned Toma on why he'd not run that day. When he did, Toma had only shrugged and proclaimed that he hadn't wanted to. Nino knew the truth though. It was always the same, no matter who the person was or what the circumstances were. It always started the same. A carnal desire to be close to someone and to have someone overpower you. Toma was no exception, and Nino had seen it so clearly that first time. It was pathetic in Nino's eyes, but it didn't stop him from using the other man. To him, Toma was simply an object, one that he could do with whatever he liked.
         He supposed that to Toma, Nino was a way that he could release an unseen side of himself. One that wanted someone to hurt him, to punish him for things that only he knew he'd done wrong. In his own mind, Nino knew that Toma was letting himself be hurt because he thought he deserved it. He didn't care what Toma thought he'd done, all Nino cared about was keeping the blood flowing. Of course, there was another side to Toma too, the one that still showed itself every time Nino drank from him. The violence and the intimacy of it all turned him on. It was simple, and Nino knew that with that perversion and with his need to punish himself for his own failings, Toma would always accept him without a fight.
           Now, with Toma’s taste still in his mouth, Nino flopped down onto the sofa and threw his phone onto the floor beside him. It was almost midday and he didn't have anything scheduled until later that night. He had a million things he should be doing, but he couldn't help letting his mind drift to Ohno and the fight the night before, or to Aiba, or to the dogs that were stalking the hospital on his behalf, waiting for their moment to grab what their master ordered. Ohno would be filming now. Reciting lines with Toma, naked emotion etched upon both their faces. They'd grown close during the last few months, and Nino was all too aware of the affection that Ohno had for Toma. Whilst Ohno treated Toma like a younger brother, he was suspicious of Toma's feelings for Ohno. They'd been spending so much time together recently that it was only natural that they would grow close. But what if Toma wanted more? What if Toma had set his sights on Ohno? What if Ohno returned his feelings? The idea made every inch of Nino’s body contract in pure rage. If that was the case, Toma would die.
           He closed his eyes just as a knock came from his front door. Nino grunted as he swung his legs off the sofa and padded to the door, pulling it open with a look of anger already plastered across his face.
           “What?” he said, even before he saw Ohno standing the other side, DS game held out in front of him and an expression that Nino knew he could never win against.
       “Come in.” He stated and stood aside.
       Ohno stepped through the door and wasted no time in pushing the game into Nino's hand.
       “I'm sorry. I'm tired... I think we both are. I don't want to fight.”
       Nino felt himself crumble. Just the sight of Ohno so sincere and pure meant that he couldn't think straight. Those eyes prevented anyone from staying angry at him. The lost puppy look that he was so good at melted Nino’s cold heart in just one beat.
       He took the game and caressed the title with his fingers as if it was some kind of link to Ohno that just a touch could alight.
       “Yeah... I’m sorry too.”
       Ohno grinned and Nino couldn't help but smile back. He wanted so badly to hold him, just touch him somehow but he knew it was impossible. There was no way Ohno would feel the same. That was something Nino thought he'd come to terms with, but it seemed that he had overestimated himself. Every move the older man made drove him closer the edge of insanity. Every dance, every laugh, every bump of their knees or every bit of fan-service was just too much.
       Nino mentally shook himself and watched discreetly as Ohno helped himself to water from the fridge. Suddenly, as he watched Ohno sip the water, something occurred to him, something that meant Toma had a use after all.
           “Hey Oh-chan, shouldn't you be at work?” Nino knew the answer long before Ohno finally spoke the words.
       “Toma called in sick; they had to cancel the filming. Exhaustion they said. I thought maybe we could hang out instead.”
       Nino nodded and as he turned away and walked back to the sofa, a tell-tale smirk spread slowly across his face.

         Aiba didn't arrive back at his apartment until long after dark. By the time he pushed open the front door, his head was spinning and his stomach was growling. The demon was demanding to be fed more regularly these days. Before, he could have gone a week or more without any blood. Now, he was lucky if he could last two days.
        Running a hand through his already tousled hair, Aiba leaned against the door and let out a long tired breath, closing his eyes and willing himself to relax. Not only was he starving, he'd had to put up with Nino smirking at him the entire evening too. He'd obviously made up with Ohno and the two of them had taken up the entire back seat of the taxi on the way home. He'd made some comment about Aiba having a tiny ass and not needing much room anyway. Sho and Jun had laughed but Aiba had just glared at the smaller man insisting that actually, his ass was just right. Nino had simply nodded knowingly and Aiba, having flushed a shade similar to a lobster, quickly shut up.
        “Yes, yes...” Sho had continued in a state that was a little less than sober. “Aiba has a perfect ass.” Somehow, even Aiba had laughed at that. Maybe it wasn't so much the words that were funny but the fact that Sho was saying them, and that he’d ended the sentence with a hiccup.
      Now, in the peace and quiet of his own apartment, his lust to feed was overpowering. Thankfully, judging by the brown paper bag on the kitchen table, Nino had been by.
      Flopping onto the sofa with the pouch of blood, Aiba flicked on the TV. The picture fizzed to life, and a woman was trying to sell him anti-aging cream. He couldn't be bothered flicking through the channels, so he let the remote slip from his hand and fall to the floor. He was interested in only one thing now.
     In his hand, the blood felt warm and so inviting. He couldn't wait any longer to taste it. With a sudden move, he brought the pouch directly to his lips and drank. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he didn't care. The wonderful sweetness and perfectly smooth texture warmed his mouth and his throat as he drank. His eyes glazed over as the liquid seared his insides like fire. The feeling spread, down his arms and his legs, his neck and face, his groin and his back. Everywhere felt like fire. It was as wonderful as it was disturbing. Each time though, Aiba found it less and less disturbing and more exciting and pleasurable. It worried him, that he was loosing himself little by little, turning into the demon that Nino was, but right now, laid across his sofa with blood on his lips, he cared about nothing at all.
     His breathing was heavy as the pouch slipped to the floor. His eyes had fluttered shut as he lost himself in the fire and the pleasure that blood now brought him. His consciousness was slipping so quickly that he only vaguely registered the opening music for News Zero. His hand twitched as he heard it, but he could do no more.
     As the blissful darkness claimed him, the last thing he heard was the soothing tones of Sakurai Sho talking softly through the blackness. For the first time, he slipped under with a smile on his face.

         The weeks passed slowly, each day dragging out longer than the previous. Arashi had never been so busy, schedules packed with interviews, rehearsals, performances and various types of filming. By the time the first concert came around, all the members were glad to be able to have a day to themselves.
         Ohno, of course, had announced in the morning that he was going fishing. Nino had skulked after him, telling him he would watch from the shore this time. DS and rods in tow, the two had set off straight after breakfast. Jun had made sure to remind them that they needed to be back for one last rehearsal that evening, and then they were gone. Jun was the next to leave, heading out into the city to no doubt buy himself yet more clothes that he could try and cram into his already full wardrobe.
          “Sho-chan, let’s go to the zoo!”
          Sho looked up over his newspaper with one eyebrow raised. “Again? Haven't you been there enough?”
          “But... They have baby giraffes! And their legs are so long... Did you know that when they're born they fall from really high up?”
          Sho blinked a couple of times and resigned himself to the fact that Aiba wasn't going to give up until he agreed. They'd been friends long enough for him to know that when Aiba wanted something, he usually didn't give up until he got it. If you said no, Aiba would be sure to put on such a pout that even the most cold-hearted person would cave eventually. For a second Sho thought about lying and telling Aiba that he was busy. The problem was that he had never been able to lie to Aiba. Resigned to a day at the zoo with his best friend just because he couldn't say no, Sho put down his paper and folded his arms.
          “What, like from the sky? Aiba, you know as well as I do that's not where babies come from.”
          “Not the sky, idiot! From their mother’s... parts.”
          “Aiba, you're a grown up: you can say the word, you know.”
          “But I don't want to. So can we go and see them, Sho-chan?”
          “What? The lady giraffes... parts?”
          “No! The babies!”
          “Oh, I suppose so...”

          That evening, the five of them gathered in Sho's rented apartment. For the first time in what felt like years to Aiba, they all seemed relaxed and happy. Jun was admiring his new ring and talking at Ohno who wasn't really listening. He was too concerned with Nino who was sat beside him on the floor but trying to crawl onto his lap like a DS-using cat.
          In the kitchen, Aiba was chatting with Sho whilst the newscaster tried to prepare something that made a passing resemblance to dinner. He was failing. Miserably.
          “Ah, Sho-chan, thanks for coming to the zoo with me today!” Aiba grinned as he ruffled his friend’s hair. “The giraffes were so cute! Oh, and the otters, and the monkeys!”
          Sho smiled and shook his head. Honestly, he was exhausted. They'd walked around the zoo four times before he'd managed to convince Aiba that it was time to go home. Obviously for Aiba, seeing giraffes just once wasn't enough. Even though Sho had complained bitterly and moaned several times about his aching feet, he really didn't mind as much as he made out. It wasn't often that he and Aiba got to spend time alone together, so days when they could go somewhere were always special to Sho, even if he did his best to appear indifferent.
          “Yeah, they were cute the first time, and still cute the fourth time we saw them.” Sho tried to stifle a yawn as he emptied the contents of a jar into a pot.
          “Sho... why don't we just get take out?” Aiba asked, seeing the tiredness in his friend’s eyes.
          “No. I said I wanted to do something for you guys, and this is it. Now, can you pass me that knife please?”
          Aiba handed him the small knife and went back to leaning against the fridge door. Watching him, Aiba stood silently. He thought back to when he'd discovered the dark wound inside his best friend. It was tempting to try again to discover its secret, especially now Sho was occupied with something else. Should he though? Everyone had secrets; he knew that as well as anyone. But Sho's seemed so dark and so all-consuming that it had to be something serious. If he knew what it was, maybe he could help in some way to heal it.
          In the end, curiosity got the better of Aiba and he let his mind wander toward Sho once more.
          It was like a gaping hole, black and angry. Like a whirlpool, it threatened to suck him in and spit him out a broken man. What was it that had caused Sho to feel something like this? Aiba focused as he drew closer to it. It smelt musky, manly even, and he realised that it smelt like Sho himself. How he smelt after he had showered or after a concert. Aiba reached out and tried to touch it, wanting to feel whatever it was Sho felt.
          Sadness. There was so much sadness that Aiba felt suffocated by it. It was overpowering and so full of frustration and heartbreak that Aiba almost gasped. It seeped into every part of him and wanted to consume him. It was a sadness that filled him with ice that would never thaw. In that ice, though, there was love too, so pure and simple that he wondered how it could survive along with such sadness. It was like a flame in the midst of all the cold darkness, a beacon for Sho.
          Aiba pushed closer, wanting to know more, not wanting to stop until he knew everything, until he knew what it was that caused his friend so much pain. Closer, closer…
          “Shit!”
          Sho cursed loudly, causing everyone to look around at him and Aiba to be brought back into his own mind with a thump.
          “Huh? What?” Aiba stared blankly at Sho sucking on his finger. His senses were muddled and there was a ringing in his ears that    muffled his own thoughts. What had happened?
          “Sho?”
          Aiba moved closer, putting a hand on his shoulder as Sho turned to face him. “What have you done?”
          The pieces fell into place as he saw the dropped knife on the floor. The tip of it was red with Sho’s blood.
          “Knife slipped.” He said through a mouthful of finger.
          “Let me see.”
          Aiba spoke without thinking. In all honesty, he should be getting as far away as possible from Sho and his blood. But he couldn't move; his legs were like lead, rooting him to the spot on the kitchen floor.
          Sho reluctantly pulled the finger from his mouth and held it in front of him. “It's nothing, don't worry.”
From the lounge, Nino and the others watched as Aiba stared down at Sho’s cut flesh. Whilst Ohno looked worried and Jun looked simply annoyed, Nino wore a smirk that was aimed purely and simply at Aiba. Endgame…
          “You should be more careful” Aiba stated quietly. His eyes were fixed on the tiny amount of blood still coming from the split skin. In his chest, his heart pounded. All he could see was the blood, so little of it, but so tempting. Fresh, warm and with a sweet smell that seemed achingly familiar. Sho's voice, telling him not to fuss, was just an echo in the background. He could focus on nothing except the blood on Sho's hand.
          Slowly, not knowing what he was doing, he lifted his friend’s hand up towards his own face. Sho's objections went unheard as Aiba ran a thumb across the opened flesh. His eyes were wide and needy, his breath catching in his throat as the sight and the smell of the blood took hold of him. His whole body cried out, he craved it in a way that he didn't think was possible. It was like he was suffocating, like he'd forgotten how to breathe as he ran his thumb over the blood, smearing it across such pale skin. He couldn't help himself...
In a split second of pure animal instinct, Aiba pulled Sho's cut finger to his lips and let his tongue travel through the beautiful blood. Sho pulled away, but Aiba wasn't paying attention. It was like a bomb had gone off behind his eyelids.
          It was wrong, so wrong. Aiba took one, two, three steps back as his eyes shot open. Sho was staring at him, his finger cradled in his other hand. Ohno, Jun and Nino were standing in the doorway. And Nino was laughing.
          So familiar. So painfully familiar. Aiba's mind couldn't register anything except how everything suddenly seemed so wrong. The taste of Sho's blood set his body on fire. He was burning up with the need for it. He stumbled backwards until his back hit the wall, eyes wide with the realisation of what was going on, what Nino had been doing all along.
          “No... No!”
          The taste was so familiar. The sweetness, the smooth texture that was like velvet in his throat, the taste that was so rich yet so subtle at the same time. It was all so painfully obvious now. The first blood Nino had given him had been rough and bitter. It had tasted so dirty and diseased. It had made him sick, his stomach recoiling at it in protest. But since that first time, Nino had provided blood that had warmed him and given him strength; his body had accepted it willingly. It had been sweet and smooth—it's flavour like nothing else he had ever tasted. That blood, that perfect blood, had been Sho's.
          Just as Aiba's legs seemed about to give out on him, Nino stepped forward and caught him. Fingers gouged deeply into his flesh and the smaller man pushed him roughly back to his feet and against the wall. In his mind, that familiar vicious echoing voice rang out.
          Didn't you know Sho-chan gave blood? Why do you think I was so eager to supply it to you? Now what are you going to do, maggot?
          In his mind, Aiba heard Nino laugh over and over.

/

My Blood Red Rose - Chapter Four.

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:24:44 GMT

Title: My Blood Red Rose.
Author: Last_of_the_few. That'll be me.
Chapter: 4//?
Genre: AU, angst, vampires.
Rating: R. For general themes and some blood sucking.
Group: Arashi. For now centered on Aiba and Nino.
Disclaimer: Nope, I own nothing here except the story idea. Please don't sue me...

Summery: Part Four! Things begin to get more complicated from now on. Who's the real monster in all of this? Nino vents his frustrations, and is Aiba really coping okay?

Authors Note: Sorry this took me so long to write. I had major writers block with this chapter. It fought me all the way, but finally it's here! It's a little longer because I wanted to introduce a couple of new plot twists in one go. I almost wanted to cry when I wrote the last paragraph with Nino in it. I think I must be strange to feel so sorry for him.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading this. Hopefully I can update soon.
Comments are love <3

The following morning the five men gathered together in a small and slightly grimy dressing room. Life had to go on; that was what Aiba kept telling himself. Well, it wasn't exactly life, but it was better than any other option he had. This was his reality now. The previous day, whilst Sho had tended to him in any way he could think of, Aiba had exhausted himself thinking things through in his head. Sure, he hated himself, hated what he'd become. But who could he blame for it? Nino? Of course he could blame the smaller man, after all it was all his doing. But no matter how much he resented him and hated him for what he'd done, it was Aiba himself who had put himself in the position to allow him to do it in the first place. Slightly drunk, horny, and without a reasonable outlet for his frustrations he'd followed Ninos lead. Nino hadn't chased him down, forced it upon him, no; Aiba himself had dived willingly into what he was offered.
He'd actually been laughing in the shower that morning. Thinking how some people found themselves pregnant after sleeping with someone, but how he'd found himself dead. Poor Sho had knocked at the door, asking if anything was wrong. Aiba had to make some excuse about the soap and a slippery hand.
Poor Sho.
A strange calm had settled across him since then. It was like a blanket of understanding. What was done was done, he was as much to blame as Nino, and no matter how he hated what he'd become, he was powerless to change it. Would it really affect him that much anyway?

Last to arrive from makeup into the dressing room was Nino. Aiba looked up from the magazine he was reading and noted that he looked tired and not as bright eyed as he normally did. A thin silver scarf was wrapped around his neck, perfectly complementing the dark shirt he wore. Aiba looked at his own clothes. Shorts and a striped t-shirt with a low open collar. More what you would expect, after all, it was August.
Nino strolled in and flopped down onto the small sofa, wedging himself between Sho and Ohno. Sho shifted up slightly, giving him more room, whilst Ohno simply leaned into him. Nino closed his eyes, rested his head on Ohnos shoulder and let out a long sigh.
Across the other side of the room, Aiba watched him with senses that seemed too alert, too polished to be real. He could almost feel the emotion coming off of the other man, he could almost taste the exhaustion, feel the comfort he drew from Ohno. Aiba squinted as he concentrated hard, exploring this new found talent. Colors seemed to reflect from Nino, colors he could feel in the way other people could feel textures. He was tired, needy, but yet there was something else too, he was content, but there was a shuddering, all consuming darkness too. Aiba wondered just how much he could read from the other man, how much he could read from anyone. Still looking at Nino, he pushed further, curiosity getting the better of him.

Nino closed his eyes as his head rested upon Ohnos shoulder. The older man, although acting as if he had given no reaction at all, dipped his shoulder slightly, allowing Nino a more comfortable resting space. All the while, Ohnos eyes were firmly focused on the script he had in his hands. Nino could feel sleep tugging at him, seducing him. He almost gave in, was on the verge of allowing himself to drift off when something else disturbed him, something searching with cold curios fingers. Sleep was banished as his eyes shot open. Across the room, Aiba was staring at him.

Nino mentally slammed the door on the other man, closing himself down tight like a sinking ship. He fixed Aiba with such a hateful gaze that Aiba shuddered in his seat.
"How dare you try and read me, Aiba!"
The voice was like a thunder crack inside his mind. Sharp, dangerous and meant to hurt him.
"I'm sorry...I...I didn't know what I was doing. One minute I was just watching you, the next...I felt...things. " Aibas gaze fell to the floor, the magazine in his hands long since forgotten.
"Never try and read me, you have no right to pry into things that don't concern you. You're just a dog, remember?"
Aiba was silent. What had he done? How had he done it? could he read people so easily now? Just as easily as he'd read Nino?

As Nino closed his eyes once more, Aiba found himself looking at Sho. Buried in a mountain of newspapers, the sight of the newscaster always made Aiba smile. He'd been a friend for such a long time that Aiba was hard pressed to imagine life without the Keio boy. Sometimes they were the exact opposite of each other, Sho tight lipped and ever thoughtful, choosing his words with care, whilst Aiba was a force of nature, acting on impulse and saying the inappropriate. Sometimes though, they were so alike that they blurred into each other, where one stopped the other seamlessly began. That was what true friends were; a compliment to each other.

Watching him now, Aiba frowned again, concentrating like the way he had just moments before with Nino. Sho was calm. Everything about him seemed peaceful and easy. Aiba smiled as he let the waves of Sho's feelings crash over him. He seemed so at ease with himself, sitting there lost behind his newspaper. There was something else though, something that flared brightly when Aiba tried to unravel it. Beneath the calm and the relaxed Sho, something else festered, something so well hidden that...
"Time to go!"
Aibas eyes were torn away from Sho as one of the assistants swung the door open. Unerved by this wound he'd found in his friend, Aiba looked up disoriented.
"Huh?"
Jun was the first one on his feet, and with a sigh he stretched his arms over his head.
"He said it's time to go. You know, filming...our job."
"Oh."

One by one the filed out the room and down to the studio. When they were almost there, Aiba felt a hand on his shoulder.
"You okay? You're not feeling sick again are you?"
A glance over his shoulder revealed Sho in that familiar motherly role he'd got so used to recently.
"Ah, no. I'm fine Sho-chan. Let's do our best, okay?"
Really though... he thought, I'm the one who should be asking you that.

The long summer days passed in a whirlwind. He had no time to dwell on his situation, he just had to learn to deal with it. It was probably for the best. Work was keeping them all busy and none of them had time for anything other than eating and sleeping. Out of all of them, the only one who still looked healthy was Jun. But then, he thrived on work. The more he could do, the happier he was. The rest were all loosing weight, the shadows under their eyes darker than before, and tempers frayed too often. Only the night before Ohno and Nino had ended the evening cursing each other. It was a blessing that Nino had eventually stormed out of the room. To Aibas eyes it was obvious his disguise had slipped. For a few minutes the true Nino revealed himself. Spiteful, vengeful and so quick to hurt. Tears had welled in Ohnos eyes as the door had slammed shut and a silence fell across the room. Aiba knew how he felt, he knew how much pain Ninos words alone could inflict.
Eventually, Ohno had simply stated that he was going home.

In his own apartment, Nino's rage continued unabated. He no longer cared why he'd got angry at Ohno. It didn't matter that it was simply because he was fussing over him, telling him he looked thin, telling him to eat more. He would have laughed if it had been funny. He wanted him to eat more? If he carried on that way then he'd break his vow to himself and take every last drop of blood from their damn leader.
Deep down though, Nino knew that Ohno had no idea of the power of his words. He didn't know that every day was a struggle to not give in to the temptation. He loved Ohno with every fibre of his being, and he'd pledged to himself long ago that he would never ruin that by giving in to the draw of his blood. Ohno was the only person that he would deny himself for. Ohno was the one person who kept him from truly being a monster.
Sometimes though, like tonight, the frustration became too much. Every part of him would scream it's desire for Ohnos flesh. Just once, it would tell him, just one taste. But he knew it wouldn't end there, he knew he'd want more and more, and Ohno deserved so much better than that.
So instead, Nino grabbed his keys and wallet and stormed from the apartment. His feet carried him on auto pilot down to the street below and into the bustling city. With rage bubbling so dangerously beneath the surface, Nino keyed in the familiar number on his phone. It rang several times before a husky voice eventually picked up.

"Hello?"
"It's Nino."
"Ah..."
"You at home?"
"I...I...I have guests."

Nino could hear voices in the background. His lip curled into a dangerous grimace as he slowed his walking ever so slightly.

"Tell them to leave. You have 15 minutes."
"But..."

The line when quiet for several second as the other man obviously battled with himself. Eventually however, the inevitable happened.

"Dammit...fine, whatever you want."

Nino smirked as he flipped the phone closed and slipped it into his back pocket. No one could deny him, especially not the man on the phone. After all, if he denied him, he knew that it would only end one way. Rather a live coward than a dead hero. He'd been Nino source of food for many months now, and he did it only because Nino kept the threats constant. If he refused, or somehow evaded him, Nino was only too happy to hand out a punishment or two.

Alone at last, Aiba sat cross legged on the floor of his kitchen. In his hand was a full glass of what could have easily been ketchup or maybe tomato juice,or maybe both mixed together for some kind of A no Arashi experiment. Unfortunately, it was nothing so innocent. For the last few weeks, since Nino had first forced blood on him, he'd been receiving a regular supply organised by the other vampire, delivered to him fresh from the hospital. He said he wasn't going to do it forever, and that Aiba should hurry and find himself a source of regular fresh food. The very idea still caused every part of Aiba to contract, to shy away from the thought of feeding from another person. How could he do that? He couldn't over power someone, it just wasn't in his nature. He couldn't deliberately cause pain either. He was pityful, as Nino had told him again and again. Still, despite his constant abuse and threats, Nino had arranged for a supply to be dropped to Aiba every few days. From the hospital, so he'd said. "From the blood bank. Its funny you know, on tv they're crying out for people to give blood because there's not enough, but yet here you are stealing it from right under their noses. I wonder how many people will die because there isn't enough blood? I wonder who died because you needed that?"

The memory of his words had frozen Aiba like a statue. Now he sat on the floor not able to take his eyes from that glass in front of him. Someone had probably died because he couldn't, no wouldn't feed from a living person. Was he more of a monster than Nino after all?

Despite his internal anguish, his body craved the blood like it craved oxygen. Slowly, deliberately and pushing all thoughts from his mind, he brought the glass to his lips and drank. One small sip at first, then another, but then he was gulping it down, blood spilling down the front of his shirt and covering his stomach. The world fuzzed out around him, every muscle humming, he felt so alive. Heat seared his skin as his hair prickled on the back of his neck. His hands shook, but not from fear. Ecstasy filled every millimetre of his body, and as he finished the glass he let it slip from his hand and fall into his lap. With his breath heavy and ragged, and with a sheen of sweat now on his skin, he let himself topple backwards until he lay sprawled out across the floor of his kitchen. In the soft light Aiba laughed, he laughed and laughed until his chest ached and his eyes were full of tears. Only then, when the sensations of ecstasy had faded, did he let himself weep.

Nino knocked on the door twice, then stood back with his arms folded across his chest, waiting. Impatient. A soft creak of floorboards, and the door was slowly opened to reveal a man dressed in jeans, a white shirt and black waistcoat on the other side. Nino smirked, his stomach growling so loud that he hoped the other man could hear. He wasted no time in pushing his way passed the door and stepping into the apartment. It was still full of what must have been the remnants of a party. Gesturing with one hand, Nino turned back to his evening meal.
"Party?"
"Just a few friends from the show. We finished another episode today. I asked Ohno but..."

Ninos face contorted into rage so quickly it was as if someone had simply flicked on a switch.

"Shut up!"

The other man looked confused and fearful. He knew that when Nino got this mad it would never end well for him. Angered a fresh by just the mention on Ohnos name, the vampire stalked forward and grabbed his once friend by the collar and dragged him across the room, stopping only when he pushed the other man roughly against the far wall.

"You don't deserve to even be around Ohno..." He growled low in his throat as he tugged the mans shirt away from his neck, breathing in the fear that was coming from the other in waves like a tsunami. "Ohno is mine..."

"I...I never...God no, it's nothing like that...I just invited him for a drink, that's all. With everyone else..."

"Shut the hell up!"

With a strangled cry that resonated around the room, Toma felt Nino clamp down on his flesh with a force that was beyond words. Tears sprang to his eyes as his hands scrabbled to push the vampire away from him. Nino however had anger and frustration to fuel him, and he simply grabbed one offending hand and slammed it back into the wall. Blood tricked from the corner of his mouth as Toma cried out again and again. In his minds eye though, it wasn't Toma at all. It was Ohno, and his blood was sweet and delicate, and he was giving himself willingly to Nino. As blood trickled down Toma's chest, Nino brought his other hand up under the Juniors shirt and ran his fingers across the hot flesh of his stomach. Ohno always did like that...
Behind Ninos eyes, in the fantasy that only he could see, Ohno cried out his name again and again, his hands caressed his face and he was smiling. Nino groaned into the fresh blood from Toma, Ohnos name on his lips as he drank his fill from the other man.

---

Sho waited patiently in the half empty waiting room. The morning was bright, the sun streaming through the hospital windows. How many times had he been here recently? He'd begun to loose count. Still, he was doing his part, giving back something that was so needed. He hummed to himself as he lazily flicked through the pages of an old magazine, smirking when he saw Ohnos chubby face smiling back at him from a commercial.

“Sho-san?”

The nurse smiled down at him, a clipboard in her manicured hands.

“I'm glad to see you again. If you'll come with me, you can begin your donation.”

Behind Closed Doors

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:31:28 GMT

Title: Behind Closed Doors
Genre: Fluff, crack...general stupidity.
Group: Arashi
Pairing: Sakuraiba and Ohmiya.
Rating: PG13. (Because Ohmiya are kinky idiots!)

Summery: A drunken Aiba looses his Sa-chan and because he can't sleep without him, he goes looking. Maybe the boys should all learn to lock their doors.

Notes: So at the moment I have major writers block with the vamp fic I've been writing recently. It's driving me crazy. Laying in bed last night I was struggling to form my ideas into anything decent when this just popped into my head, completly unrelated to my other story. Anyway, it seemed a shame to waste some kind of inspiration, so I wrote it up this morning!
Normal service will resume....soon, I hope. <3 In the meantime, enjoy the fluffy, cracky, kinkyness of my broken brain!

Aiba was a lovable drunk. He was the sort of person that would happily tell everyone how much he loved them, how much he needed them, how he couldn't think of life without them. In fact, he'd done all of the above tonight, to each member of Arashi in turn, and then to their management. It was at that point, when Aiba was about to start flailing over the hotel staff that the rest of the group dragged him away, finally and thankfully calling it a night.

30 minutes later and everyone had gone to bed. Aiba had somehow managed to change into a pair of ridiculously baggy orange shorts and an old “I love London” t-shirt and rolled himself under the duvet of his king sized bed. But that was when he hit a problem. Although he was close to unconsciousness thanks to the ridiculous amount of beer he'd drunk, he couldn't actually fall asleep. Instead, he flopped around like some kind of dying fish. He couldn't get comfy. The sheets were too cold, the pillows were too hard, the bed was too big. There was more to it than just that though, and Aiba sat up far too quickly when he realised.

“Where's Sa-chan?”

Grumbling, Aiba patted down the bed in his search, but came up empty handed. On a mission now, he checked under the bed. Quite a feat for someone who was as drunk as he was. Still nothing. Despite his searching, the wardrobe, shower, drawers, suitcase and the toilet all proved to be empty of his beloved Sa-chan.
Someone had stolen Sa-chan!

Stumbling to the door, Aiba stopped to check the waste bin. Even turning it upside down proved to be of no use. No Sa-chan there. With a huffing noise, Aiba pulled open the door and walked out into the hallway that ran the length of the floor. The door slammed shut behind him, unknowingly locking him out.
With his feet padding on the soft carpet, Aiba made his way to the door opposite his own. Number 421. He didn't bother knocking, he simply turned the handle and walked on in.

Juns head flicked round the instant that Aiba entered the room. He jumped to his feet, tangling himself in the sheet that had been wrapped around him so tightly. On the TV, Harry Potter blared out, badly dubbed into Japanese. Juns eyes were frantic as he scanned for the remote control, desperate to turn off the film. Where was the damn thing?! In his desperation he finally spotted it on the floor beside his foot. Only seconds before Aiba had burst in he'd been waving it around, pretending that he had the power in his magical remote controller wand to turn the tv on and off.
Aiba paid no attention the the rather embarrassed looking Jun standing at the opposite side of the room, he was only after one thing.

“Where's Sa-chan?”

“Eh?” Jun frowned at Aiba, his arms crossing across his chest, trying to regain some form of cool control.

“Who's the hell's Sa-chan? Don't tell me it's another one of those damn soft toys...I have no idea where it is...AIBA!”

Without really listening, Aiba had begun to rifle through Jun's bed. Pillows were knocked off and the sheets were discarded as the older man failed to find what he was looking for. Next he tried the wardrobe. Maybe Jun might have hidden Sa-chan in there. Poor Sa-chan, all alone in the dark, he'd be so frightened. Thankfully, the wardrobe proved empty except for Jun's usual bizarre mix of clothes.
Ignoring the younger mans please to stop, Aiba pushed passed him and checked the bathroom. No Sa-chan here either. So, Jun didn't have him.

Without so much as a “goodbye” or a “see you later”, Aiba opened the door and without a word, closed it behind him, leaving Jun back inside shaking his head and wondering just how much Aiba had really had to drink.

Two doors down, and Aiba reached door number 425, Ohnos room. It didn't matter that it was almost 1am, or that his leader was probably tucked up in bed, he turned the handle anyway and found himself stood in a dark and empty room.
Closing the door, and shutting out the light from the hallway, Aiba flicked on the switch on the wall. The light above his head blinked on and off a couple of times before it spluttered into life. Ohno hadn't even unpacked his things yet. His suitcase led untouched on his perfectly made bed. Still, Aiba began his search for Sa-chan.
After 10 minutes, and having found nothing other than some dust and old bits of paper, Aiba concluded that Sa-chan wasn't here either. He left Ohnos room in a decidedly worse state than when he arrived. Not that it even registered in his alcohol addled brain. All that mattered was finding Sa-chan so he could get some sleep.

After leaving Ohnos room, he trudged wearily down to the other end of the hall to room number 488. Ninos room. Just like he had the others, he simply pushed the unlocked door open.
Two steps in and Aiba stopped where he was. He blinked twice, turned around and stepped out of the room, firmly closing the door behind him. No...Sa-chan wouldn't be in there.

In Ninos room two men stared at where Aiba had been stood just seconds before. Shock and horror plastered across their very, very red faces.
Nino was spread naked like a starfish across his bed, his hands and feet tied with what looked like shoelaces to each corner. Straddled butt naked over him, with an upended bottle of chocolate sauce in one hand and a large black ostrich feather in the other was Ohno.
There was an embarrassed silence in the room, as each had frozen still like a statue. The silence didn't last long though, Nino cried out suddenly, shaking Ohno back to the present.

“Ah...ah! Oh-chan! Oh-chan...quick, stop! Too much, too much!!”

Ohno, eyes glazed and full of lust, looked down at the writhing Nino beneath him. Chocolate sauce had carried on pouring from the open bottle that had been in the process of being squeezed over his Nino dessert when Aiba had suddenly appeared. Now, it had pooled in Ninos belly button, overflowed and cascaded like a waterfall over his stomach and hips and had left him laying in a pool of brown chocolate sauce that squelched as he wriggled to get away from it.

“Ah! Sorry Kazu!”

Ohno tipped the bottle, flipped over the lid and threw it to one side.

“Look at the mess!” Nino exclaimed as he wiggled his hips rather deliberately. Ohno smiled, lowered himself down and tasted the first mouthful of his Nino dessert.

Aiba only had one last place to try. If Sa-chan wasn't here then he had no more ideas where to look. He'd be destined to spend the night without hugging his Sa-chan.
His feet brought him to a stop in front of room number 490. The last on the floor. Just like before, he turned the handle and let himself in.
The room was dimly lit, just a bedside lamp illuminating the white walls and crisp bed sheets. Sho sat in bed, newspaper in hand, pouring over the latest news before he called it a night. He was relaxed and enjoying the atmosphere he'd created for himself. That was...until Aibas shrill voice shattered the silence.

“Sa-chan!!”

Sho looked up totally bemused as Aiba bounded across the room.

“You're still drunk, and...what the hell are you wearing? Have you ever even been to London?”

He folded the paper and put it neatly beside the bed as Aiba launched himself onto the free side of the king sized bed.

“I couldn't sleep, and then I realised it was because I didn't have my Sa-chan, so I went looking for you. I can't sleep without Sa-chan!”

Sho shook his head.

“Okay, One; why would I be anywhere but my room, and two: what have I said about calling me Sa-chan? What's wrong with Sakurai, huh?”

Aiba pouted. “I like Sa-chan.”

Sho knew he was fighting a loosing battle, one that he'd lost so many times before. Drunk Aiba was even more irrational than sober Aiba.

“You better make yourself at home then.” He said, reaching over and turning off the only light in the room. When he turned back, Aiba had slid under the duvet and had attached himself like some kind of hugging leech to Shos side.
In the dark, Sho smiled. His hand lightly brushed stray hair from Aibas forehead as he felt him relax. Within minutes, Aiba was snoring softly, his hands wrapped tightly around Shos waist.
Gently, Sho put a soft kiss to the top of the other mans head.

“You're an idiot Aiba-chan...But...you're my idiot.”

------end------

My Blood Red Rose - Chapter Three

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:37:21 GMT

Title: My Blood Red Rose.
Author: Last_of_the_few. That'll be me.
Chapter: 3//?
Genre: AU, angst, vampires.
Rating: R. For general themes and some blood sucking.
Group: Arashi. For now centered on Aiba and Nino.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just the story idea. I wouldn't mind an Aiba plushie though...

Summery: Part Three. Aiba is awake and must now face what he truly is. Meanwhile, Nino must do what he was made for.

Authors Note: This chapter is a little shorter than the others, and focuses more on Nino. As I said before, there is more going on here than meets the eye. Same things apply as last time though, if you like what you read, please leave a comment, it makes writting so much more fun if I know people enjoy reading it!
Enjoy!! :)

Chapter Three.

Nino shifted uncomfortably in the hard chair as the woman the other side of the desk went on and on about something or other. His gaze flitted from the papers on her desk to the window behind her. The sun streamed across the Tokyo skyline, illuminating the buildings and casting deep shadows across the streets. Nino stifled a yawn and fidgeted again on the hard seat, slouching down until his head rolled forwards.
"Are you even listening to me Nino-san?"
He jerked his head up at the sound of his name, meeting the stern looking woman's eyes.
"Err...huh?"
"Nino-san..." She began with a sigh. "I know it's boring, but just do me the favour of actually listening. It is your schedule after all."
Nino nodded, a resigned look in his eyes as he straightened himself in the oh so uncomfortable seat. "Sorry...I'm just..." What was he going to say? He was tired? Drained? Distracted? Excited? Hungry? Or all of the above? Truth was, he'd been wondering about Aiba, wondering how he was dealing with his new life, curious to see how he would cope in the harshness of this new reality. It was an interesting game. One in which he positioned the pieces as he wanted just to see what would happen. A game in which Aiba was just another poor fool there to amuse him until his interest wandered elsewhere.
Back in the present, he managed a smile, one of the ones he knew could melt even the hardest of hearts and make his mistakes seem less important.
"Sorry. Go on."
The woman gave a reluctant smile of her own and carried on going down a long list of things she had to tell him. Tv appearances, interviews, rehearsals, live shows. His schedule was packed. Of course he would complain to her, tell her that he couldn't fit it all in and still come out the other end of it alive. She'd tell him she was sorry, that she knew it was hard, but that it was just an indication of how popular he was these days, how popular they all were.
It was the same thing every time they met, it was almost routine and they both knew it. Still, they both played their parts. Nino complaining, and she would tell him that she understood.
"So you have filming with the others at 11:00am tomorrow morning. The car will pick you up as usual. Don't forget."
Nino flashed another one of his smiles. "Would I ever forget?"
Laughing despite herself, the woman behind the desk waved a hand. "Go on then, we're done. I'll send you a copy of next weeks schedule in an e-mail."
"Thanks!"
Nino was up out of his seat and through the office door in a matter of seconds. He'd never been one to be able to sit still for long, well...unless it was in front of a video game, but that was a different matter.

In the harsh fluorescent light in the bustling corridor beyond the door, he weaved his way between people, heading for the parking lot, and his ride home. Halfway down the stairs though, his phone vibrated violently in his pocket. Thinking it was going to be his manager again, he sighed heavily as he reached for it, flipping it open and taking in the number. It wasn't her.
Even in the unforgiving light of the corridor his eyes gleamed as he read the message.

"I'm hungry. Where are you?"

Slowly, a smirk spread across his soft lips. The gleam in his eyes deepened as his read the message again before flipping the phone closed. His heart sped as he took the steps two at a time, racing to get to his car. He was needed. It had been almost a week since he'd last received a message like that from Him. Had there been someone else since then? Jealousy flared, hot and dangerous. No, no, there would never be anyone else, he'd said so himself.
Nino slammed the car into drive and sped out onto the Tokyo streets. He knew where he was needed, and it was far from being a chore.

Two days had passed since Aiba had collapsed on the floor of his apartment. Long endless days in which Sho had taken it upon himself to look after him. Three times, Aiba had stirred, woken from his deep sleep long enough to acknowledge Sho's presence, thank him, take his hand and smile before sleep claimed him once again. Sho spent his time worrying about his friend, fluttering back and forth in the apartment, trying desperately to keep busy while he waited for Aiba to wake for good.
Nino had told him that the doctors had treated him for a fever, that they'd expected him to sleep for several days, and that he would be fine when he woke so long as the fever had broken. Still though, Sho worried. What if he didn't wake? How long could a person sleep for without eating or drinking?
Everyone had come over to check on Aiba. Jun seemed visibly shaken, not staying long, just long enough to wish Aiba well before he made his excuses and left. Sickness made Jun frightened, Sho knew it and so did the others. It upset him to be around those he couldn't help. It was a side to Jun that was rarely seen, but that everyone knew existed and showed just how deeply he cared for his friends. Ohno had come bearing a handful of fishing magazines. When he started reading them to Aiba, Nino had snatched them away, asking the older man if he was intent on boring Aiba to death. Nino himself said nothing, just came by to visit each day, eyes taking in every aspect of Aiba as he slept. He laid a hand on Shos shoulder as he and Ohno left on the second night.
"He'll wake when he's ready Sho-chan. You could do with some sleep too though."
Sho had nodded as he closed the door to the apartment, once again leaving him to worry about his best friend.

Now, at almost 9:00am, Sho was reading the daily newspaper whilst Aiba slept on in the other room. He turned the page delicately as he took a gulp of hot coffee. The liquid burned through the morning haze and gave him the push he needed to carry on. He was exhausted himself, never sleeping for long incase Aiba needed him. Coffee was probably all that was keeping him going now.
As his eyes skimmed the words in the newspaper, a muffled sound came through the wall from Aibas bedroom. Sho looked up, eyes wide as he listened. The sound came again.
"Sho-chan?...Sho-chan?...Where are you?"
Sho was up from the sofa in a heartbeat. He threw open the door to the bedroom to find Aiba tangled in the sheets half in and half out of bed.
"Whoa, whoa, Aiba! Stop."
The taller man stopped where he was and a relieved smile fixed itself across his face. "Sho-chan! I thought you'd left. I couldn't hear you."
"I was just reading in the other room."
Sho put a hand to Aibas forehead, trying to gauge if he was still sick. Aiba looked up apprehensively.
"How do you feel?"
Aiba took a second to pause, as if trying to figure out exactly how he did feel. He felt...great. It was as if every part of him was on fire, but it felt good. It felt like he was finally aware of everything around him, the smallest details all seemed perfect to him. His skin tingled as he stretched out his hands, his eyes bright and full of life.
"I feel...fine."
It was the understatement of the year, but he could think of no other words. Sho grinned down at him, relief written all over his face.
"About time, you had us all really worried."
"Sorry."

Aiba hung his head in shame as the memories flooded back into him. The realisation of who he was, of what he was hit him like a lead weight. He couldn't fight it anymore, he'd lost the battle. Now he was simply a slave to Nino, the lowest of the low he'd called him, and maybe he was right. He'd been pulled into a world where he didn't fit in, dragged kicking and screaming into the darkness, and now there was no turning back. He slumped where he sat on the edge of the bed, resigned to being a monster for the rest of his days. He couldn't even summon the strength to hate Nino any more. After all, it had been him that had saved him from death. Even though Aiba still couldn't help but think that it would have been an easier way out, he wouldn't want to hurt those around him. Maybe what Nino had done had been for the best. Still, it didn't change the fact that he was a monster now, reliant on the blood of others to survive. It was a pitiful excuse for an existence. He was a pitiful excuse for a man.
"Why don't you get dressed? I'll bring you some coffee, okay?"
Aiba looked up as Sho smiled down at him. He couldn't help but give a tiny smile back. Sho...Sho was his best friend, but if he knew his secret...Aiba didn't want to think about it.
"Okay. And...sorry for your arm."
Sho shook his head. "It's fine. They say it might leave a scar, but...Kind of manly though, huh?"
With a laugh Sho left the vampire alone. Alone. It was something he was going to have to get used to.

In the dark, Nino crunched up his eyes as he felt his blood flow freely. Teeth pricked at his skin, a soft hiss as a tongue licked delicately at the puncture wounds. This was more than a duty, more that a chore which needed doing. To Nino, this was his pleasure.
Deep and horse, a voice groaned into the dark as its owner fed on the smaller man. Nino squirmed within his own skin, wanting more, needing. His hands grasped the others shirt, pulling him closer still. His breath came in shuddering gasps as his own blood trickled onto his chest. The other pulled away, careful not to take too much too soon. A hand ran up Ninos face, tangled in his hair, another tracing the flow of blood down his chest. He opened his eyes and smiled as his companion breathed his name, his mouth fixing once again on the blood from Ninos neck.
This was his duty, this was his pleasure. Only a pureblood vampire was allowed to feed from the flesh of another vampire. Purebloods were rare, the offspring of vampiric parents. From their first days in the world they are raised on blood alone. Only they are allowed to feed on their own kind. Their powers are unsurpassed, deception, coercion, manipulation all come naturally. Each usually has a single vampire which they will feed from. One they have sired to do just that. One that will remain loyal to them and never deny them. This was Ninos role. Whilst Aiba may be slave to him, Nino himself was slave to a greater power. One which he would serve until the his last breath left his body or he was nothing but ashes in the wind.
Nino felt the teeth leave his neck for the second time. His vision was blurring, his companions moans turning into distant echoes. His eyes fluttered, half closed as a finger ran across the wounds on his neck. An instant later the finger was on his lips. His tongue touched gently to the flesh, the taste of blood, his own blood, filling his mouth. With a smile on his pale lips, his eyes flickered shut and darkness rushed in. In an hour or so he would awake, alone. That was how it always was, how it probably always would be. After all, he was simply something to feed upon, no matter how he wished to be more.

My Blood Red Rose - Chapter Two.

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:01:45 GMT

Title: My Blood Red Rose.
Author: Last_of_the_few. That'll be me.
Chapter: 2//?
Genre: AU, angst, vampires.
Rating: R. Mainly for the traumatic content of this chapter.
Group: Arashi. For now centered on Aiba and Nino, but again, this will change as the story progresses.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just the story idea. I wouldn't mind an Aiba plushie though...

Summery: Arashi vampic fic in which Nino has forced his "gift " on to an unwilling Aiba. Now Aiba has to come to terms with his new life, and Nino has his own battles to fight. (Contains meany Nino, and a very sick Aiba. Oh...fleeting Sakuraiba too because I couldn't help myself. :p)

As always, I know this isn't going to be to everyones likeing, so if you do read and like, comments are wonderful!! Sorry as well for this chapter being a tad long.

-------

Chapter Two.

Aiba screamed a tortured scream. The sound echoed off the walls as he threw himself to the floor of the once immaculate apartment. His limbs thrashed wildly as he struggled for an ounce of self control. The demon in him was winning, demanding to be heard, satisfied and given control. Aiba fought with all his strength to suppress it. He'd never give in to it, never in all the years he may live. He wouldn't become like Nino. Dark and evil, scheming and vicious. Never. Never!

Alone in his apartment again, Aiba thrashed and fought with his desires. He couldn't think straight, he couldn't control himself any more. His muscles trembled and spasmed, demanding to be heard. The need was swallowing him whole, until he could think of nothing other than the blessed relief he would get by just giving in. Never, Never! He would never give in!

In the light of the new dawn, Aiba was curled up on his sofa. His legs were drawn up to his chest, and he hugged himself as if his very life depended on it. On his face, a sheen of sweat glistened in the light, his eyes fevered, darted around the room as his breath came in shuddering twitches. His hands wrung themselves so tight that his fingers were deathly pale, a matching hue for the rest of his body. In the silence of the immaculate apartment he ground his teeth so loud that it was a surprise he was still able to hear his own racing heart.
It had never been this bad, never been so bad that when the new day came he was still in the grip of the demon inside him. It was like Nino had said, the madness, the need to hurt himself. He was fighting with all he had, but he was loosing the battle, and the war was almost over.

Knock, knock...

The sound seemed so alien that Aiba didn't register it at first. When it came again, the part of him that still held on to some kind of sanity tried to stir, to tell him that there was someone banging on his front door, someone talking to him through the heavy wood.
"Aiba-san? Aiba-san? Are you in there?"
Minutes passed and Aiba didn't respond, couldn't respond. A key turned in the lock of the door and a man dressed in jeans and a white shirt pushed his way into the apartment. Footsteps crossed the floor and before he knew it the other man was next to him in a sudden panic.
"Aiba-chan? What's happened? God...you look terrible, are you sick? What's wrong? Talk to me."
Aiba managed to blink as his eyes fixed upon the other presence in the room. Of course it was Sho. Sho was his best friend, of course he would come to him. Right now though, Aiba didn't trust himself to be anywhere near his friend, or even his worst enemy. Aiba tried to back away, but Sho persisted, smoothing his sweating brow with his gentle touch.
"Aiba-chan...please...what's wrong?"
Words formed in his throat, but he couldn't seem to force them out. His mouth opened, his lips moved, but no sound other than a moan escaped from deep in his throat. Sho's hands were on his shoulders now, shaking him, demanding him to obey. Aiba's head lolled to one side as he finally managed to breath out one word.
"Fever."
Sho's eyes were full of badly suppressed panic, the concern for his friend showing with every movement.
"I told you to rest. You didn't listen to me did you? Damn...Aiba you look like death."
Still shaking and his eyes still darting, Aiba hugged his legs to him tighter. His stomach convulsed and bile rose up into his throat. He swallowed hard, his throat like sand paper.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Sho stand and reach into his back pocket for his phone. Without taking his eyes from Aiba, he flipped it open and dialed. All the time his eyes were searching Aiba, never leaving him, taking in everything from the sweat on his skin, to the pale almost deathly colour his skin had taken on. Aiba was seriously sick.
"Nino-kun...I've found him. Is Ohno with you?" Only when a voice answered from the other end of the line did Sho look away from the man on the sofa.
"No, he's off filming. He left early this morning. Where is he?"
"At home in his apartment. Aiba-chan's sick. Really sick. I know Jun's out of town for a couple of days, so I thought Ohno might know what to do, he's good with stuff like this."
Silence. At the other end of the line Nino paced the kitchen he was standing in. So Aiba was sick, huh? A smirk flitted across his lips like a flame across glass.
"I'll come right over, Sho."
"Thanks Nino."

In the immaculate apartment, Sho flipped his phone closed. "Nino-kuns coming over."
Aiba groaned in protest but he didn't have the strength to fight it. Nino would see him pathetically loosing the fight and he would be another voice in his head. The last thing he wanted now was Nino smirking and telling him how he'd told him this would happen.
"No, Aiba...I think you should stay there." Sho said as Aiba tried to lift himself from the sofa on arms and legs that were never going to hold him. The muscles beneath his skin twitched and vibrated and he slumped back onto the sofa. Sho's arms caught him in a protective embrace and lowered him back. Aiba screwed his eyes shut against the pain and demand that wouldn't leave him.
"You're burning up Aiba-chan, let me get you a blanket."
Sho hurried off toward where he knew Aiba's bedroom was and returned moments later with a blue blanket covered in tiny gold stars.
"Here, Aiba."
Sho unfolded the blanket as he leaned close to Aiba. Delicately and deliberately he leaned in and tucked it around the other man. Aiba's darting eyes stopped for a moment as he caught the faintest smell of fear from Sho. He was scared that Aiba was sicker than they thought, and he wasn't sure what to do. Aiba could read it all in the smell from the other mans skin, a mix of sweet and musky scents. Becoming truly still for the first time in hours, Aiba looked up as Sho tucked the blanket around his back. His eyes feasted on the sight in front of him. Sho's pulse, strong and so regular in his neck. The skin so delicate and perfect, so smooth and soft. His eyes fixed on that steady rhythm. His own skin prickled, desire unleashed like a caged beast. A groan emerged from his throat, soft at first, almost a whine, but it grew into something all the more deadly.

Aiba lashed out, pushing Sho to the side and throwing himself onto the floor. Sho slipped and fell, landing half on and half off the sofa. His hands flailed to catch at something to break his fall, but there was nothing. Crashing to the floor, his arm smashed across the table, catching the glass of water that was now several weeks old. Aiba scuttled across the floor until his back was against the wall and he sunk to his knees. He cradled his face in his hands and the tears flowed freely. He'd lost control for the briefest of moments and now he knew what he truly was. He was a monster. With every fibre of his being fighting him, he shook with the effort it took to keep some control.
"Damn...Masaki, what the hell?"
Sho had picked himself up from the floor and was staring down at the man who was now rocking steadily back and forth on the floor in front of him. Aiba murmured something incoherent, and Sho's eyes were once again full of worry. As he looked down, he became aware of a spreading warmth across his side. Taking his attention from Aiba, he surveyed the damage that the broken glass had done. Blood flowed freely down his arm and was seeping into his white shirt and staining it deep red.
"Shit."
Sho left Aiba for a moment and went looking for something to clean up his blood. He returned with a bathroom towel and began dabbing at the wound with a grimace on his lips.
Aiba looked up finally from the floor, his face streaked with tears and sweat. His eyes met Sho's before they travelled down his arm to where the blood was still running. His muscles tensed and his breathing deepened. Aiba fought again against the inevitable, pulling at his own hair and screwing up his eyes. It didn't do any good, he could smell the blood in the air. Back and forth he rocked, fighting with all he had.
The demon in him wanted the blood, wanted it so badly that he would do just about anything for it. Aiba was fighting still, loath to relinquish that fragile hold he had on his former self, the Aiba that he had been.
He wouldn't let the monster win, no matter how it tortured him, no matter how he wanted the blood that flowed so freely from his friend.
"Nooo!"
Aiba screamed into his clenched fists just as the door to his apartment was flung wide open and Nino walked in. Aiba knew it was him even before he heard him speak to Sho. His head buzzed when he got close, the scent of dried blood and sweat still so evident on him. Even through his closed eyes, Aiba could see the other man sizing him up, passing judgment upon him.

"What's going on?" Nino asked as he closed the door behind him, taking in the sight of Aiba curled on the floor and Sho nursing a deep wound to his arm with a towel. Nino looked from one to the other, and back to Sho again.
"He's really sick, Nino-kun. Like he has a fever or something. I tried to put a blanket on him, but he threw me off. I cut myself on a glass."
Sho shrugged. His own injuries were nothing, all that mattered to him was Aiba.
Nino glanced at the wound. If he hadn't been so full he would have found it hard to resist the temptation, but luckily for Sho, his appetite was well sated. Still, the sight of fresh blood flowing so freely made his eyes widen and his breath hitch in his throat.
"You should go and get yourself fixed up, looks like you could do with a couple of stitches." Nino said as he looked down at Aiba, making sure his face was full of concern before he looked back at Sho, cutting off the other mans objection. "I'll get him to a doctor too. He'll be fine...You though, need a hospital."
Sho knew Nino was right, his arm was numb, and there was a worrying amount of blood still coming from the wound. "If you're sure Nino." Nino nodded and motioned toward the door. "Go...before you pass out or something." Reluctantly, Sho backed toward the door as Nino crouched down in front of Aiba, making a show of going for his phone.
"Call me when you get him to a doctor, okay?" Sho said as he reached the front door. Nino simply waved him away, and with a resigned sigh, Sho closed the door behind him.

When the door finally closed and Aiba was left alone with Nino a thick silence hung in the room like a storm cloud. Aiba moaned in a half delirious state, his body twitching uncontrollably. Beside him, Nino sighed. "I warned you this would happen didn't I? But no...Aiba knows better. You want to die, Aiba? Really? Because I say you've got a few hours left in you and then you're just about done for. Idiot."
Roughly, Nino clawed Aibas hands away from his face and looked deep into his unseeing eyes. "And now you know the yearning too I'd guess by the sound of things. Get used to it..."
Nino licked his lips, the faint memory of the previous nights meal causing his stomach to grumble. With a laugh that echoed off the walls of the apartment and sent cold shivers down Aibas spine, Nino pushed himself to his feet.
Maybe he should let Aiba die? He obviously wasn't half the man he'd thought he was. But where would that leave Arashi? Hmm...it was a dilemma. It would serve him right to die, but at the same time, Nino had at least some loyalty to his fellow band members. Ohno would be distraught, and he cared too deeply for him to want to cause him such grief.
Walking into the kitchen, Nino carried on talking whilst he searched the cupboards. "You're lucky really. I'll only do this because of Oh-chan. I'd be in trouble if I let you die."
Nino fingers danced nimbly over pots and pans, opened draws and sifted through cooking utensils.
"As much as I think you deserve to die, it's really not worth the hassle I would get. It makes me look bad too. You know, to sire someone so weak willed."
With a grin, Nino pulled the pouch from behind two boxes of cereal. Only Aiba would hide something so important in such an obvious place. He walked back to Aiba, whistling as he went.

Aiba couldn't think anymore. His mind was blank and his vision was nothing more that a black void. Sound came to him like a whisper on the wind. It seemed like it belonged somewhere else so he ignored it. The darkness pulled and he went willingly into it, feeling the sensation drain from his limbs. He was floating now, a sudden sense of peace overcoming him. He was tired too. He should sleep. In his chest his heart skipped a beat, then another, it's rhythm faltering as he lost the will to breath. It was quiet now, perfectly quiet. No more fighting, no struggling, just peace and the knowledge that it was over at last.
Quietly and peacefully, Aiba gave himself to the inevitable.

Hands grappled with his face, squeezing tightly around his cheeks and forcing his mouth open. His head hit the wall behind as something warm and sweet trickled into his throat. The darkness, so inviting and so nearly his; brightened slightly. His heart re-found it's rhythm, and his chest heaved with a shuddering breath.
Nino squeezed the last few drops of the pouch into Aibas mouth and sat back and waited. When Aibas hands clawed at his own throat, Nino smiled a wicked grin.

Aibas world suddenly flashed into sharp focus. Every sound, every feeling amplified ten times over. He screwed his eyes up as he tasted the blood in his mouth. He wanted to be repulsed but he couldn't. Instead he savored the taste as his eyes shot open. He let out a scream that would have shattered every window in the building if Nino hadn't put a hand over his mouth to muffle it. His eyes burned bright as color flooded back into his cheeks.
"W...W...What?" He managed to stammer as Nino let his hand fall from his mouth.
"Welcome to the world, Aiba. Feel good?"
Aiba took a moment to look around him before his swimming head proved too much and he crashed sideways to the floor. Everything felt so real, so much...more. His skin tingled where it touched the fabric of his clothes and where it touched the floor. Groaning, he looked up at Nino. The man had made him a monster, and now he'd forced blood upon him there was no turning back.
"You should be grateful. You almost died. Now...now you're so much more than alive, Aiba. The world is yours for the taking."
The realisation that Nino hadn't moved his lips at all, and that his voice had rung out like a bell in his head was too much for Aiba. His vision faultered, and he hit the floor with a thud for the second time. This time though, he was truly out cold.

In the immaculate apartment Nino laughed. He laughed so hard that tears welled in his eyes and his stomach ached. Maybe this was going to be fun after all.

My Blood Red Rose - Chapter One

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 12:33:59 GMT

Title: My Blood Red Rose.
Author: Last_of_the_few. That'll be me.
Chapter: 1//?
Genre: AU, angst, vampires.
Rating: PG-13 for now. I may well increase this later if I need to, but I will warn if I do. For now, contains some scenes of violence and angst.
Group: Arashi. For now centered on Aiba and Nino, but again, this will change as the story progresses.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just the story idea. I wouldn't mind an Aiba plushie though...

Summery: Arashi vamp fic. (Maybe not to everyones liking as it contains some very cruel Nino.) Nino passes on his "gift" to an unwilling Aiba. Aiba must face who he is or loose everything.
I know there are a lot of people who have their own ideas of what a vampire should be. Please bear with me in my interpretation. These guys have reflections, can eat normal food, can go out in sunlight, etc. This is done for reasons of humanising them and adding a little more feeling to the story. If you prefer your vampires more traditional, maybe this isn't the fic for you. I just wanted to know why Nino doesn't seem to age, and why they all wear scarfs in the summer!!
If you like it...comments make me super happy!

Aiba sat cross legged on the floor of the imaculate apartment. The table infront of him was bare except for an out of date filming schedule and a glass of two day old water. From outside, the sounds of the city invaded the tranquility of the room. Cars honking horns in annoyance at others, people shouting and laughing, children crying. None of it reached the ears of the brown haired man sat on the floor of the immaculate apartment though. Aiba Masaki was too lost in himself to notice. Normally, he was immaculate, just like the appartment he lived in. No hair ever out of place, no creases in his clothes. But now, sat on the floor of his rented appartment he looked like a man who had lost everything. His hair fell limply into his eyes, greasy and uncared for. His clothes smelled old and unwashed, and his green sweater was full of holes. This wasn't the Aiba that people knew, this was just the shell of a man who had lost it all.
Sitting on the floor, his hands shook in his lap. His whole body twitched and convulsed with some unseen force. Shadows darted silently across his face, unvoiced words forming on his lips before being swallowed back down. His eyes darted left and right as if looking for something that only he alone could see. Back and forth, back and forth, forever searching, never finding. His hands made fists in the fabric of his shorts, grasping it as if it alone was to blame for everything that was wrong. Tighter and tighter he pulled until his knuckles were white and the material threatened to rip in two. With his muscles spasming across his body, he threw himself to the floor. The cold hard surface gave him no relief though. His mind was too wracked with the need. It demanded, it insisted, it tortured and tormented him, but he wouldn't give it what it wanted, what it craved. Never, never would he sucumbe to what it wanted him to be. Never.
Aibas legs thrashed on the floor, a silent groan forming in his closed mouth. It would pass, as it always did, but each time was worse than the last, each time pushed him closer to the edge, each time made him want to die a true and human death. Maybe this time would be his last, maybe he would cease to be, maybe he would just die here on the floor of his immaculate apartment. It was all just wishful thinking though, Aiba knew that now, even death was just a dream that he was denied.

The sun streamed into the appartment the following morning, crisp and bright and so full of warmth. It bathed the room in a golden light, its rays falling gently across the sleeping mans face. He shifted a little, moaned in his sleep and rolled onto his back. Somewhen in the night he'd shed his green sweater, as it now lay halfway acros the room, ripped and torn. He'd loved that sweater. It has been a present from Ohno for his birthday three years before. Now it lay tattered and forgotton, broken and useless.

The shrill ringing of his mobile phone finally woke a sleeping Aiba. Groaning, he reached out a hand, knowing that it had to be beside him somewhere. After what seemed like a lifetime of fumbling around, his fingers settled on the cool metal of the phone. He flipped it open without looking to se who it was, groaning with the effort that it took to move his distressed body.
"Hello?"
"Aiba, it's Nino."
Aibas frows furrowed as hatred flared inside him. Deep in the pit of his stomach he felt every fibre of his being contract in dislike as the other mans soft tones invaded him from the phone line.
"What do you want?" He asked cooly, still lying on his back.
"Is that any way to talk to me Aiba-chan? Really...I could get offended." Nino laughed. This was how they were now, slowly simmering resentment and dislike. On the surface, to those around they were the same, but under that, in the private times they spent together they were something else entirely.
Aiba let silence hang between them like a black storm cloud.
"Bad night?"
"Yes."
"You know there's only one cure for that, but we'll talk on that later. Now though, I was supposed to remind you that you'll be picked up in an hour. Filming starts at 11am. We'll see you there."
Nino hung up and Aiba cursed under his breath as he stared up at the ceiling. Damn him for this, damn him to hell for everything he'd done.

Filming fimished late that evening. By the time they'd all showered and changed clothes the sun had set and most normal people were at home. Arashi though were only just winding down.
"I'm exhausted!" Jun exclamed as they all packed their bags up. Everyone nodded and filled the room with a chorus of agreement. It had been a hard days work, and after several weeks of rest it had come as a bit of a shock to all of them. Aiba was trying his best to be normal, to be the goofball that everyone knew him to be. The problem was that that person seemed to be someone he'd lost contact with. The Aiba he knew now was a broken man, a twisted shadow of the person he used to be. Ehausted and filled with constant pain, he was a ghost in his own body, a stanger to his own reflection.
He stifled a yawn as he pushed an uncooperating pair of jeans into his bag.
"Aiba are you ok? You look more tired than all of us put together, and you've lost some weight too." Sho said, leaning casually next to him and prodding his sunken stomach as his eyes scaned Aibas pale face.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I am tired though, maybe I have a virus or something."
"Ah, maybe that's what it is. You should take care of yourself though. I'll get mom to cook you up some of her soup, that'll make you feel better."
Aiba smiled, "That would be great, your mums cooking is the best!"
Satisfied that he'd put his mind at rest, Sho said his goodbyes and was the first to leave. In a matter of minutes both Jun and Ohno had left as well, leaving Aiba staring into the mirror at his own reflection, and Nino standing with his arms folded across his chest.
"You need to eat Aiba."
Ninos tone of voice was always different when they were alone, lower, threatening, darkly dangerous. Aiba still hadn't got used to it, to how their relationship had changed. Nino was the prankster, the boy who could do no wrong. Under the surface though you didn't have to look far to find the sly and manipulative Nino. The boy who could hurt with so few words, or with just one touch. The boy who would take everything and crush it just for the fun of it. Aiba sighed quietly, looking at Ninos reflection in the mirror.
"No I don't."
"I'm telling you that you do. I've explained what's going to happen if you don't. Or do you like the thought of going crazy as you tear yourself apart limb by limb just to bury the hunger? I'm ordering you to eat, and you're in no position to disobey me."
"I wont do it."
Nino closed the gap between them in three strides, and in an instant had his hand locked around a fistfull of Aibas hair.
"Be careful how you speak to me, bitch. Remember your place in the world."
Aibas jaw set firm as his head was tugged back hard. He knew he shouldn't fight him, that he would never win, but he had to try. In Ninos eyes he was the lowest form of life, just a spot on the face of his kind. Maybe Nino hated him as much as Aiba did him, or maybe this was just his true nature. Aiba was certain it was both. This was who Nino really was, and yes, he did hate him now.
Nino tugged tighter at his hair, causing a yelp to escape from Aibas lips.
"I...I hate you for what you've done to me." Aibas voice was trembling against his will as he spoke through clenched teeth. He hated himself for sounding so weak infront of the other man.
Ninos breath was hot on Aibas neck as he spoke with such a quiet malice that it made the skin crawl across his back. "You begged me Aiba, you begged me for it. I remeber it like it was just last night. You begged me to take you, to take you forever. You pleaded with me like a child. You screamed my name Aiba." Nino was smirking now, relishing the hold he had over the taller man. "I simply gave you what you asked for."
"That was before I ..."
"Before what? Before you realised what you were getting into? Before you realised what it was you were asking for? Well tough shit Masaki. Don't ask for things you don't want. And more importantly...don't beg a man who'll willingly oblige."
Nino let go of his hair and shoved his head forward. "You've made your bed, now lie in it you piece of crap."
Silence filled the room as both men tried to contain the simmering rage that burned them and choked them. Nino stalked back and forth picking things up and tossing them into his bag. Aiba simply stood staring into the mirror, his teeth clenched and his fists balled at his side. How he hated the other man, how he despised every atom in his plague ridden body. It hadn't always been that way, not until that night. That night had changed everthing and he would never forgive him, just like he would never forgive himself.
"You will eat then." Nino stated from behind him once more.
"Never." Aiba turned around, finally facing his tormentor. Ninos face was contorted in rage, his eyes gleaming with violence that was just waiting to be unleashed. He growled deep in his throat. It was a noise that chilled Aiba to his very core and set his heart beating quickly, ready to run.
Ninos hand came up like lightening, and the slap hit his hard across the cheek. The sound echoed like a storm around the dressing room as Nino glared up at him.
"I've given you the greatest gift and this is how you react? You ungrateful son of a bitch! You have no right to disobey me. If I say you will eat, then you will eat. You're nothing but a worthless mongral dog now Aiba Masaki. I'm your master now. I own you. Remember that Aiba... I own you."
Aiba shook where he stood, so fearful of the other mans wrath, but yet not yet willing to bow down to him. Under his breath he breathed out words he knew would only make things worse. "You don't own me."
That smouldering fire blazed inside Ninos eyes. Aiba knew he'd pushed him too far, said too much and now he was going to have to pay. "Oh I think I do! Or are you so damn stupid that I'm going to have to tell you all over again, huh?" Nino smirked wickedly as he looked Aiba up and down. "You belong to me. I sired you, therefore you are tied to me. But you are the dirtiest of all vampires. At least I was given this gift from...from HIM, a pureblood, born into this world as pure and perfect as he could be. He granted me this life as a gift, it was an honor, and because of that I'm respected and feared. You, on the other hand and no different from the trash that stalks the streets. There is nothing pure about you, you are simply my toy. You lack any power, and as I told you before, you are neutered, unable to sire anyone. You are the lowest of the low Masaki."
Aiba swallowed hard, fear pulsing through his veins and demanding that he be anywhere but here. Nino stepped closer, that smirk still wrapped across his face like a mask. "Don't you think you should be a little more respectful?" The knee came up before Aiba had a chance to react. Searing pain flooded his groin, forcing him to his knees and bringing tears to his eyes. "That's more like it." Nino stood over him with his arms folded across his chest once more. "This is your place Masaki, this is where you deserve to be. You'll kneel before me...like the cowardly, pathetic bastard you are."
Aiba was scared, and he wasn't too much of a man to admit it. He'd got himself into one hell of a mess, and now he was cornered like a lamb in the slaughter house. Clutching at himself to try and ease the pain he whimpered. "Y...y...yes...sir."
Nino smiled, "Good, now we've got that straight I think you know what you need to do." He walked across the room to his bag, leaving Aiba to nurse his pain; both physical and mental. Within a moment, Nino was on his way back to the crouching man with something held in his hand. It was a plastic pouch filled with a dark liquid. Aiba knew what it was, and he knew he wanted none of it. He would resist until Nino finally took his life for good. He epected to be hurt, to have the blood forced upon him, but Nino simply tossed him the pouch. Aiba caught it with both hands and looked up at Nino, his...master.
"From the hospital. Clean and fresh. You may be scum Aiba, but only the most desperate should scavange from the street. You are mine after all, and it wouldn't look good if I let you do such filthy things." He shrugged, walking back toward his bag. "Deny it all you want, but eventually you'll give in. If you don't and the madness takes you, well...whatever." Nino slung his bag over his shoulder and pulled the door open to the corridor beyond. "Goodnight Masaki." With a slam, Aiba was suddenly alone. In the deepening darkness he sobbed into his hands, he sobbed until his eyes were sore and he had no tears left to cry. All this from one stupid night. If he'd known then what he knew now, he never would have followed Nino back to his hotel room, never would have made love to him, never would have been so excited by his teeth on his skin, he never would have begged him to bite him, to set his blood flowing, to want to see it on his lips. Aiba would give everything to go back and change all that he'd done. He couldn't though, and he knew it. Instead he was trapped in a world that he didn't belong to, one that didn't welcome him, and one where he was a slave to his master. One where Nino held the key to his life.

Love Proof -- Final Part

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:52:52 GMT

Love Proof

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:43:22 GMT

Title: Love Proof.
Rating: I'm going for PG-13, just to be safe.
Pairing: Sakuraiba with a side helping of Ohmiya.
Author: That'll be me, silly.
Genre: Angsty, but kind of fluffy too.
Notes: I own nothing except the story, unfortunately. Everyone is property of their rightful..owners. Don't sue me, I'm poor.

Summery: Aiba struggles with his feelings after a drunken night with Sho leaves him questioning who he is. This was originally posted over at Aibakaland, and it's taken me this long to get it put up here. Yes, I fail.

Bzzzz....Bzzzzzz

A grumble in the dark and a hand slammed down upon the unfortunate alarm clock. Who'd set it so early anyway? The sun wasn't even up yet. It didn't matter, it was nothing important anyway...

Voices filled his ears as sleep finally loosened its grip on him. He opened his eyes just enough to make out that it was light now, too light actually. Shifting under the sheet, he covered his eyes and felt sleep once again tugging at him with all it's might. Willingly he let it grab him and pull him under once more. But it wasn't for long. Something had a grip on his ankle and seemed intent on yanking his foot off. He snatched his foot back, but the hand was insistant, and now it had a friend who had his other ankle. Still clouded by the after affects of sleep and last nights drink he struggled to have any control over the situation. The hands pulled, and he could do nothing to stop the inevitable.

Thump.

"Morning!"
The man had been unceremoniously yanked from his bed by his ankles and now lay face down on the hard floor with nothing but a sheet to hide what little remained of his dignity.
"Nino..." He didn't bother to look up to check he was right. He'd known him for long enough to know. The other man looked down at him and laughed.
"Looks like sun rise!" He said as he put a cold foot against the other mans exposed backside. "You better get yourself dressed, we're leaving in an hour."
With that he laughed again and left the other man alone on the floor. The sun streamed in and with a grunt Aiba Masaki lifted himself from the tangle of sheets, ran a hand through his ruffled hair and headed for the shower.

-----

The night before had been a celebration of sorts. Hana Yori Dango had topped the charts at the cinemas, and the 5 of them had ended up drinking until the early hours, toasting Jun and his hard work. The

problem was, Aiba couldn't really remember most of what had happened passed a certain point.
As he stood in the shower, the water painfully hot, he reached back into his memory and tried to piece together the fragments. There had been singing, he was sure of that. And Nino had taken them to the arcade and single handedly beaten them all. But...the rest was just blank.
"Baka!" He cursed himself. He knew full well that he couldn't handle his drink, so why did he insist upon doing it? Aiba washed his hair furiously, the soap running into his closed eyes. Hopefully he hadn't made too much of a fool of himself. Although that was pretty unlikely. After all, making a fool out of himself was what he was good at.

Showered, and dressed in casual jeans and a white t-shirt, he skulked from the bathroom into the kitchen. Coffee would help.
"Oi, Aiba-kun...you know you shouldn't drink that stuff." Jun whipped the pot from his hand and gave him a look that only a parent would give a child. It didn't matter that Jun was younger, it was just what he did. As much as he'd never admitted it, he would have been lost without Jun around to guide him. Aiba had revealed his troubles to him so many times over the last 10 years that he felt closer to Jun that almost anyone. Almost.
"Ah, come on Jun, just one cup? My head feels like it's full of cobwebs."
"No, not just one cup. You get unbearable when you've had caffeine, especially on an empty stomach. Anyway, you only have yourself to blame. I swear...I've never seen you drink that much before, Aiba. Idiot."
Aiba huffed and instead filled his glass with orange juice. "So what. I had a good time...I think....I don't really remember."
He looked around the lounge and smiled as he watched Nino desperately trying to get Ohnos attention. Sprawled on the floor, Ohno was trying to read his fishing magazine in peace, but Nino was having none of it. Like a disruptive child, he flicked at the pages and deliberately stared at Ohno until he had his full attention.
Aiba shook his head and laughed to himself. "I'll never get those two." He said as he turned back to Jun. "They're like a married couple, but yet they'll never admit their feelings for each other. I don't get it."
Jun raised an eyebrow, "Don't you?" With a scowl, he walked off to join the others in the lounge. Aiba trailed him, the morning cobwebs finally beginning to loosen their grip. "Hey! What was that supposed to mean? And....where's Sho-chan?"

-----

The filming for Vs Arashi went well, although again they lost to the guests. It didn't matter though. They'd had fun, and after all, that was what it was all about. It was a good episode, with Leader scoring well on the pipe catching, and Jun doing well with the coins, even if it was Aibas fault they fell in the end. Those watching though could probably see a quietness to Sho, a distance in his eyes and an effort behind his smile. He didn't speak to Aiba throughout the show, but Aiba didn't notice.

After the filming they hit the canteen for some lunch before they went their separate ways. Jun had publicity shoots to do, Ohno had interviews to attend, Sho had research for News Zero to catch up on, Aiba himself had to visit a location for Himitsu, and Nino....well, Nino insisted that he had things to do although they all knew he would probably just tail Leader to his interviews, sitting in the background with his DS in hand.
For now though, the 5 of them could enjoy a brief rest.
"How's your head now Aiba?"
Nino ruffled a hand through Aibas hair, seemingly trying to do his best to induce a headache. "Fine thanks..." Aiba slapped his hand away and tried to fix his hair.
"Thanks for all coming out with me last night, it was a good time." Jun smiled and looked around the table. The others nodded in unison, all except Sho. He had his head down, staring into some far away place as he methodically spooned curry into his mouth.
"Hey, what's up Sho-chan? You feeling un....."
A poke to the ribs from Jun shut Aiba up instantly. He gave him a questioning look and Jun simply returned with a shake of his head. What was going on? Ohno and Nino paused from their mutual feeding of each other to frown up the table at the others. They were obviously unaware of anything too.
Sho finally raised his head and looked at the others as if he'd simply forgotten they were there. Pushing his plate away, he mumbled something about News Zero and the Olympics and walked out of the room.

Aiba stared after him, not sure what was wrong with his friend. They'd been inseparable for years, each relying on the other for one reason or another. Where Sho went, Aiba was never far behind. It worked the other way around too. Whenever he was away from home, Sho would always e-mail several times a day, usually saying how he missed him, and he hoped he was having fun. They were the best of friends.

If Sho had problems, then he would always come to him. Why hadn't he this time? What was so wrong that he couldn't come to his best friend?
Juns voice roused him from his thoughts, snapping him back to the present where Nino was delicately wiping curry from Ohnos chin. Something twisted inside Aiba, but he was too blind to know what it was.
"You really are an idiot sometimes, Masaki! You want to know why Sho is so upset today?" Aiba was shocked at how suddenly Jun could fire up. Even though he knew him well, knew his temper, he hadn't seen it so up close and personal for a very long time. Jun stood and pressed a long finger to Aibas head. "Look in there. Are you such an animal that you can't honestly remember what you did? I saw you. I know what happened. And I know you gave him more than he could have hoped for. You can't play with peoples feeling like that Aiba."
Aiba was so stunned that for a second he couldn't speak. What was Jun talking about? Giving Sho more than he could have hoped for? What was going on? By the time he'd recovered the ability to speak Jun was already storming away after Sho. Aiba sat in a stunned silence, brown eyes staring after him.
After a few minutes, he turned toward Nino and Ohno. "What have I done?"
"I have no idea, Aiba-kun, but I think you better find out." Ohno seemed to stare straight through him, analysing him, knowing him. Aiba turned away, confused and angered by everything.

-----

Thump....Thump...

"Sho?...Sho-chan, open the door!"

It was gone 11pm when Aiba finally made it to Sho's apartment. Filming had taken longer than he'd expected it to. It hadn't been a bad thing really, it had given him more time to think about things. Hiding behind a smile and a laugh, he went over the events of the day. Had he done something to hurt Sho somehow? Had he maybe said something or not said something? How could he have hurt his best friend in all the world? It was made all the worse by his not knowing, his not being able to remember what he'd done. If he could remember then he could fix it, apologise or do whatever had to be done to make things right again. But he knew nothing of what he'd done. Drink had robbed him of his memories, and it seemed it had robbed him of his best friend as well.
Again he banged on the door, but again there was no answer. Light shone through a gap under the door, so he knew his friend was there. The realisation that he was being ignored sent pain crushing through his chest.
"What have I done?!"

----

Aiba walked alone. The next few days were empty of any filming or photo-shoots. It was supposed to be a time of rest after the strain of the tour, but right now Aiba felt anything but relaxed. It had been four days since he'd seen Sho. He wouldn't answer his e-mails, wouldn't answer his calls, and worst of all, he wouldn't answer his door.
On Thursday, just when his depression seemed to reach new levels, Nino and Ohno turned up at his house and took him for lunch. They tried to lift his mood, to make him smile again, but Aiba was so lost that he barely knew they were there.
"Come on Aiba-chan, why don't you tell us about the pandas again? How are they doing now?"
Ohno was trying his best, and Aiba knew it. He just didn't have anything left inside him that didn't feel rotten and broken.
"It's okay, you know the story."
The other two men sighed. They'd tried their best to cheer Aiba up, but evidently whatever was eating him up was too big for them to deal with. Whatever had happened with Sho was worse than they'd thought.
"I going to the bathroom..."
Aiba stood up and walked across the restaurant to the mens room leaving his two friends to worry about him.
"I hate to see him like that Kazu-chan, it's just not right. This is Aiba we're talking about, you know...Mr hyperactive look on the bright side. I'm really worried."
"I know you are, I can see lines in your face. But what can we do? He doesn't even know what he's done, we don't even know what's going on. Sho wont speak to him and Jun refuses to talk about it and if you force him he just gets angry. I suppose we just need to be there, if he needs us." Nino shrugged, looking down at his ampty plate.
"You're right. Just like you're always right, Nino."
"Of course I am. And don't you forget it either!"
Nino smirked and wrapped his arms around the other mans sholders. "They'll sort things out. This is Aiba and Sho, remember? Those two have been friends for so long, I can't imagine them ever hating each other." Ohno nodded, clutching at the others hands. He prayed that he was right. If this carried on, the future of Arashi could be at stake. With a sigh Nino nuzzled himself into his leaders neck. "Good...I think I want another drink. What do you want?" Ohno smirked...a look that wasn't entirely missed by Nino.

Across the other side of the restaurant, Aiba walked out from the bathroom with his head and his heart just as confused as they had been before. Sho hated him for some reason that he couldn't fathom and Jun was still angry at him, and growing more so as the days went on. The only people he had left were Nino and Leader. As much as he liked them, sometimes they were so caught up in themselves that they didn't notice the rest of the world. He'd never understand their relationship. Friends but with a hint of something more. Only they knew the real truth, and if he was honest, Aiba wanted to keep it that way. What they really were to each other, only they knew.
It was as he walked back to the table, his eyes on his friends that he stopped dead in his tracks. Nino was wrapped around Ohno, his face buried in Leaders neck. Aiba stopped and stared. His pulse quickened, and his palms suddenly became slick with sweat. He stared not at his friends, but through them, seeing something else entirely. His eyes were focused on the past, five days ago. Suddenly in a flash he remembered everything, every detail, every smell, every feeling, every sound. And in those brief seconds oh, how he hated himself...

-----

"I'm sorry, this is a restricted area, we can't just let people in on a whim. Can it wait?"
"No, no it can't! I've got to see him now. It's urgent."
Aiba pleaded with the woman, the strain so evident in his eyes. The pain, the anger and the confusion from the last week written all over his face. It seemed she could read it too. After a couple of hushed messages across a walkie talkie, she stood aside and let him through. Aiba ran passed her, shouting his thanks as he took off down the stark white hallway. The offices and dressing rooms were down the hall and on the left. Aiba could have found his way to them blindfolded. All the times he'd been here as support for Sho, or just to congratulate him on doing a good job. He knew this place as well as Sho did.
Turning the corner, he skidded to a halt outside a door that bore a very familiar name.
"Sho?! Sho! Open the door!"
There was nothing, no movement, no sound at all from inside. But Aiba was persistent by nature, and he wasn't about to throw everything away so easily.
"Sho-chan I know you're in there, they told me you were! If I have to camp out here and wait for you then I will do!" He sunk to his knees and rested his head back against the door. He'd wait for as long as it took.
Long agonizing minutes passed until Aiba heard the lock click. The door opened inward as Sho walked away. "What do you want Aiba?"

Aiba was on his feet and through the door in a second. "Sho-chan...I've been so worried. I haven't seen you in days! I didn't know why you were mad at me, I couldn't...couldn't remember. You know what I get like when I drink too much." Aibas voice was barely a whisper, and his head hung low. He despised himself, but yet here he was trying to make things right. How could they ever be right again after what had happened?
"I take it you remember now though?"
"Yes."

----

Aiba stood so alone in Sho's dressing room as his world fell apart around him.
"I take it you remember now though?"
"Yes."

"One more drink!"
"Aiba, really, don't you think you've had enough for one night?"
"Maaaayyybe."
Sho hoisted Aiba up onto his feet and led him away from the bar. "You need some fresh air I think."
With Aiba giggling away to himself, and leaning hevily on Sho, the others shook their heads. "How much did you give him to drink, Jun?" Said Nino with a smirk.
"Too much by the look of it!"
Laughter filled the air as they walked across the beach, away from the bars and the hustle and bustle of the city. It had been a good night.
"Thanks for coming out guys, but I gotta head that way now." Jun said as he pointed up the beach and into the town. "See ya tomorrow, bright and early Aiba-chan!" More laughter rang through the night as they carried on walking, Aiba becoming only slightly less of a burden for Sho. Eventually it was just the two of them left. Nino and Ohno having decided to head back to the apartment that they shared with the others. By now, Sho couldn't carry Aiba anymore, it was like carrying a lead weight around. He stopped and let Aiba flop to the ground.
"Heeeeeeeeeyy!"
"Aiba-chan, you're too heavy!"
"But it was fun up there!"
Sho shook his head with a grin and flopped down beside his friend. They'd been friends for as long as he could remember, and no one mattered more in the world to him than Aiba. He would have walked to the ends of the earth for him if he'd asked him to. It had taken him a long time to understand that his feelings for Aiba were more than just normal friendship feelings. The realization that they ran so much deeper was almost too much for him to deal with. But yet he had. He'd hidden his feelings every day for the last 3 years. It didn't matter that he longed for his friend, Aiba would never feel the same. It was an impossible dream, one that kept him awake so many nights. Aiba was so blissfully naive that Sho didn't want to ruin what they had. It had made things tough for him though. Desire was a terrible thing, and would strike you when you least expected it. Only a month or so ago he'd broken his thumb and Aiba had offered to wash his back for him. He'd have given anything to let him, to have his hands on his skin, but yet he couldn't let it be like that. It wasn't right, he couldn't trust himself.
Now, on the beach in the moonlight Sho was trying to avoid looking at Aiba. Drunk as he may be, the desire to be more than his friend was too much.

Lost in his thoughts, Sho hadn't notice Aiba sit up and crawl behind him. It was only his cooing noises that gave him away. Sho flicked his head around and laughed out loud as Aiba prodded and poked a poor unfortunate grasshopper.
"Aiba, leave it be. You're probably scaring the life out of it!"
Aiba pouted and folded his arms across his chest. "Spoil sport." For a while they sat in silence, Sho contemplating his screwed up relationship, and Aiba....well, Aiba could have been thinking about anything. The silence was only broken by Aibas excited cries. "Oooh, shooting star!! There, there!!" Sho was too slow to react. All he seemed to be able to concentrate was how close Aiba now was to him, how he could hear his breath, how he could smell his scent.
"You didn't see it did you?" Aiba asked.
"Ummm...no, I guess I was too slow."
"Poor Sho. Now you don't get to make a wish. I'll make one for you. What do you want me to wish for?"
"Nothing....just...make one for yourself."
Aiba made a disapproving sound and let out a sigh. "I wish.....I wish....for this to last forever." Aiba giggled, his eyes getting heavier by the second. He leaned forwards and rested his head on Shos shoulder. Sho tensed, as he did every time that Aiba touched him. He made a move to get away, but Aiba was already enveloping him with his arms.
"Mmmm, comfy!"
Shos skin prickled and he sat still as a statue. "Um...Um...Aiba-chan?"
"Mhmmmmm?"
Sho felt something give inside him, like some kind of barrier slip for a second. Maybe it was the sound of Aibas contented voice, or the weight of his body against his own that did it, but for a brief moment he couldn't hide from the truth anymore. Instinct drove his hand to grab Aibas arm, just as instinct drove him to lean his head against Aibas. Instinct caused him to stroke the hair from Aibas eyes, to lean forwards and press his lips so gently to the other mans head.
"Aiba-chan?"
There was no reply.
"Aiba-chan? There's something you should know."
"I know already."
"You do?"
"I've known for years, that you like me."
Silence fell again. The two caught up in each others embrace. Sho felt like he'd fallen into someone else's life, into a dream where reality wasn't what he thought it was. He knew he should seize the moment because it might never show itself again, but courage deserted him for an instant. He struggled with his own emotions there on the beach, the waves breaking as he and Aiba fought with their own dreams. Maybe it was the alcohol that made him do it, or maybe something else, but Sho knew he couldn't let things go, not now that he was so close to his dream.
With one hand he lifted Aibas drowsy face. The drunk smiled and muttered something that Sho didn't catch completely,but it sounded like "Finally. It's taken you so long." With the crash of the waves, their lips met and they both knew that their relationship would never be the same again, for better or worse. The kisses grew deeper as the night blackened around them, their bodies entwined and their desires finally set free.

Breathing hard, Aiba pushed himself to his feet. His knees shook as he pulled on his trousers and grabbed his t-shirt. What had they done? Was this what he really wanted? Could it even work?His mind screamed at him that he'd made a mistake, that no matter how much he wanted Sho, no matter how much he'd enjoyed this...thing, that they'd had, it couldn't work. He was scared beyond anything he'd ever imagined.
"Aiba-chan? What are you doing?" Sho propped himself up on his elbows and watched Aiba dress.
"I...I...I...need to leave now."
"What? Why?"
"This can never work. Just think about it Sho. If people found out we would never be seen in the same way again. And what if it didn't work out? Our lives laid bare for everyone to see. I can't...I can't do it. I..." he paused as he thought he heard movement behind him. There was no-one there, just his imagination.
"I...don't know what I'm supposed to do. I don't know if what I feel for you is love, or if I just...crave you. I don't know how I feel, except that I can't do this. It was wrong....It was just the drink...I'm too drunk..."
With that Aiba stumbled off across the beach leaving Sho dazed and hurt. Sho clutched at the sand between his fingers, but like Aiba, it just slipped away. Aiba had taken his heart, beaten it and broken it into a thousand pieces. He was numb from head to foot as he pulled on his own clothes once more. So numb and broken that he didn't realise Jun was there until he was being pulled to his feet.
"I lost my phone so I came looking for it..." He said as if that explained everything. "I heard what he said."
Sho looked up through unseeing eyes.
"Lets get you home Sho, tomorrow is a new day."

"I remember."
Aiba stood motionless in the dressing room as Sho paced in front of the windows, watching the bustling street below.
"Why are you here Aiba? You've already taken my heart and pounded it to dust, surely you can't want to cause me more pain?"
"I never wanted to cause you pain, Sho. I was a drunk, and a scared one at that. What happened....should never have happened. I'm sorry for everything. I...." Aiba looked up and felt the hatred for himself intensify. He was a sorry excuse for a man, a sorry excuse for a friend, and a pitiful excuse for a lover. "I ... we....should never have....I don't know what was wrong with me."
"ENOUGH!" Sho screamed. "I've loved you from afar for years, and you said you knew it. Who the hell are you to take advantage of that just because you wanted an itch scratching, huh?"
Aibas eyes widened. "No...I...not like that..."
"Get out! Get out!"
Sho stormed across the room and threw the door open. "I said get out!!"
Aiba stumbled through the door, his green sweater hanging forlornly down over his hands. He turned back, his mouth ready to speak, but the door was slammed in his face. Hot tears welled in his eyes as he ran from the building. People stared, but he was passed caring. He'd hurt Sho in so many ways, and he despised himself for it. He cared for Sho more than anyone knew. He realised that now. It did run deeper than friendship, but he was to frightened to admit it to himself. He loved Sho, but was frightened of the love. He didn't understand it, didn't ask for it, didn't want to have to deal with it. But the truth was that he DID love him, but he'd never been so scared of anything in his whole life. Rather than dealing with it, he'd pushed it away and hurt the one person he didn't want to. The one person he cared about more than anyone. The night on the beach had been like heaven, but it also petrified him. Where did he go from here? He was an idol for god sake. He was supposed to live happy ever after with some beautiful woman, not with another man.
Aiba shook from head to toe, all the repressed emotions finally spilling out, the world cracking beneath his feet.

----

The following morning Aiba stood in a daze in the shower. The red hot water pounded around him, but he felt nothing. Hotter, hotter...it had to be hotter. With eyes as unseeing as any statues he turned up the heat. His skin protested but he didn't move, didn't flinch, didn't react. Steam filled the bathroom, finally blissfully obscuring his own reflection. Silently he reached for the soap, never blinking, never seeing. He had to cleanse himself of the memories, he had to wash his sins away. Harder and harder he scrubbed, until his skin was red raw. He wanted to scrub away any trace of Sho, and hint of what had happened between them. It was wrong, forbidden and he wanted no part in it.

"Hello? Earth to Aiba? Are you even hearing me? Just what we need, another one to space out. Aiba!"
In the dressing room before the filming of Shukudai-kun Aiba was lost in his own mind. Ninos voice seemed to come from nowhere to wrench him back to reality. "Huh? What?" He said as he looked up around the room. The magazine he had been reading had fallen into his lap, and he quickly picked it up and tried to act as casual as he could.
"I said, we only have a few minutes, are you ready?" Nino looked down at him questioningly, and Aiba simply nodded back. Daring to glance around the room he caught Juns eye. What must he think of him? Jun probably thought he was no better than dirt now. Using his friend for one night of release. Maybe Sho had been right, maybe he'd just had an itch that needed scratching and that was why he'd given himself so willingly to the other man. It was just an animal instinct, an urge he had no control over. That was all it was...Except that as much as Aiba wanted it to be that simple, he knew deep down that it wasn't so easy.
Jun simply stared at Aiba, but there was something in his eyes that hadn't been there before. Sure there was anger and hate there, but now there was something else. Aiba didn't try to figure it out. He was exhausted. The lady who did the makeup had commented on the dark circles under his eyes, saying that he probably needed more sleep. Sleep was something that had long since slipped from his grip. Everytime he closed his eyes he could see that night again and again. It excited him, but at the same time it frightened him and disgusted him. Aiba Masaki was strictly hetro-sexual. Right?

Filming was difficult. The tension in the air was obvious to everyone. Aiba was glad when it was over and he didn't need to put on the fake laugh or the fake smile. He could go back to his pit of misery and not have to deal with anything. The others had long since left, Sho making an unusually quick exit after changing in private. Did he think that Aiba was that much of a monster that he didn't want to even change his shirt in front of him anymore? Aiba sighed as he packed his bag, Jun perching on the edge of a long sofa.
"Listen, Aiba...This can't go on for much longer."
"Huh?" Aiba looked around, tired and strained.
"You think that if you ignore things that they'll just go away?"
Aiba didn't have a chance to reply. Jun was firing up again, and he had no strength left to deal with him.
"Listen to me Aiba, you've hurt Sho more than you know, and to be honest I don't know how he's going to get through this. You need to sort this out, and soon!" Aiba looked away, staring at his own reflection in the mirror. His jaw tensed as he swung around toward Jun.
"You think I don't know how much I've hurt him?!" he yelled. "You think I don't think about it every damn second of my life? You think I don't despise myself for what I've done, how I acted?! But what am I supposed to do Jun, answer me that!"
Jun stood from his spot on the sofa and walked closer to Aiba. "Only you know that Aiba-kun. Only you know how you really feel. And you do know, no matter how hard you try to hide it."
Aiba shrunk where he was standing, the fight gone from him. Juns words were like a slap to the face.
"That's just the thing, I don't know how I feel." He said, his voice only a whisper and his head hung low. "I'd not thought about it, even though I knew there was maybe more to Sho than I thought. I don't know why I did what I did that night. I was drunk..."
"That's not an excuse Aiba!"
"I know but...Jun...I...I'm scared. I mean...this is all so wrong. Two men don't do things like that, right? But....what I feel for Sho-chan...I don't know what it is. How do two men fall in love?"
Silence filled the air between the two, and when Aiba dared to look up, Jun was smirking.
"Oh, Aiba-chan, honestly, do you walk around with your eyes closed half the time?"
"Huh? What?"
"You think Ohno-kun and Nino-chan are just buddies right?"
"I....I don't know."
Jun rolled his eyes. Aiba was so nieve and innocent that what had happened that night had torn apart who he thought he was. "You have to make things right with Sho-kun one way or another, Aiba. Leader is already worried about the group, so you need to end this."
Silence again. Aiba paced the room, his head a mix of every emotion possible. Could he love another man? Was he willing to love another man? Again, those memories that both excited him and repulsed him. Long minutes passed, and Jun simply sat on the sofa watching every move he made. Suddenly, Aiba grabbed his bag and swung it over his shoulder. "I can't do it Jun-kun. I'm not gay...I was drunk, and it should never have happened. I hurt Sho-chan and for that I'm truly sorry, but I cant change how I feel. I can't let myself be what....be what he wants me to be." With that Aiba was gone from the dressing room, leaving Jun alone in the darkening room.
"No Aiba-kun...what you mean is that you cant let yourself be who you want to be." Jun shook his head and picked up his own things. Checking his phone he realised he'd missed a call. It was Sho.

----

The days passed like years to Aiba, each morning bringing fresh emotions and confusion upon him. He didn't understand anything any more, least of all himself. Sho was a friend, a friend he cared deeply for, but that was all. Over and over again he told himself the same things. Over and over again he pushed any other thoughts from his mind. He didn't love Sho like that. He didn't. He didn't!

"Aiba!"
A banging at his front door dragged him away from his dinner that evening. "Yeah...coming, hold on."
Dressed in huge baggy jeans and a yellow t-shirt, Aiba slouched over to the door and opened it a crack. Nino stood on the other side, smiling like he always did and holding a slip of paper.
"Oh, hey Nino." He said as he opened the door and stepped out the way, letting his friend into his apartment. "What's up?"
Nino wandered in and immediately started investigating Aibas dinner. Apparently it wasn't to his liking, as he screwed his nose up and turned his back on the half finished plate of food.
"Oh, we've been invited to a party tomorrow." He said holding out the paper. "I told Jun I'd let you know. He said that I was to tell you that you had to come."
"Did he really?" Aiba rolled his eyes as he glanced at the paper. It was some leaving party for one of the guys that worked on Himitsu with them. He liked parties, at least he used to. Now they just made him nervous. "Is...is everyone going?" He asked tentatively.
"Yeah, I think so. I'm picking Ohno-kun up and I think Jun is picking Sho up too. You can come with us if you want."
Aiba swallowed hard. He had no way of getting out of the situation. Not really, not in anyway that wouldn't cause suspicion. He would have to go. At least to just show his face and then he could leave. But the idea of being stuck at a party with Sho not even looking at him and Jun glaring and gesturing the whole time wasn't exactly fun. It looked like he had no choice though. If he didn't go it would be very rude.
"Okay, fine. I'll wait for you guys to pick me up then."
Nino slapped him on the back and grinned again. "Good. It'll be good for you Aiba-kun. You've not left this apartment for days. Whatever is wrong, it can't be so bad that you need to hide."
Aiba simply shrugged and grumbled. Nino shook his head as he walked back toward the door. "8pm Aiba. Be ready."

The party had been in full swing for an hour or so. Aiba had settled himself down into a sofa in the hope that most people wouldn't notice him. It hadn't worked. Jun was first, pointing out that Sho looked good, and that Aiba should fix things sooner rather than later. He'd just replied with a grunt, and he knew that Jun wanted to let loose at him again, but in the confines of the party he knew he couldn't. Jun simply stormed off and ignored Aiba from then on. Ohno and Nino had come to speak to him several times, but when he refused to leave his sofa, they'd gone off without him. Right now Aiba was so confused and broken that he couldn't think straight and he sure as hell couldn't make idle chat with strangers at a party.
Time had passed so slowly to him that when she came over to speak to him he'd lost track of how long he'd been sat there.

"Jun!"
Sho bustled through the crowd trying to find his friend. "Sorry....sorry, excuse me." Finally, in the depths of the buffet table, Sho found Jun helping himself to yet more food.
"Hey, Jun." He said quietly. "I...I think I'm leaving now."
Jun turned to look at Sho and knew there was something very very wrong the instant his eyes settled on his face. He was pale, and looked like he was about to be sick. His eyes were red, and he looked like he was fighting back tears. His hands were balled at his side, a position that the normally placcid Sho never adopted.
"What? Eh? Sho, what's wrong?"
"I just...can't do this. He's...killing me."
"Sho...You're not making any sense. What's going on?"
Sho didn't say another word but simply stepped aside to give Jun a clear view across the room. There, sat on a fine leather sofa was Aiba. Draped over him was a girl. She had her hands in his hair, and he was playfully stroking her face. He was giggling, soaking up the attention. Aiba whispered something into her ear and the girl giggled loudly, batting him on the chest, but letting her hand linger.
Jun stared. What the hell was he playing at??!! Anger, the likes of which he couldn't control bubbled and erupted inside him. He took a step forward, two steps forward before Sho grabbed the back of his suit jacket.
"Jun, don't." He said. His voice was filled with hurt and pain, but yet he was going to be strong about this. He looked over at the two just as Aiba looked over the girls shoulder at the two other men. His eyes were emotionless as for a second he fixed Sho's gaze. The world seemed to stop spinning as they stared at each other. One asking "Why," and the other just a void. Jun pulled against Shos grip but couldn't shake him. Aiba was smiling now, and saying something to the girl. She nodded and they stood up, Aiba with his arm draped over her thin shoulder. He took one last look at Jun before he disappeared into the crowd with the girl.
Sho was silent, and Jun relaxed enough that the grip was released from his back.
"Can we just go please Jun..."
Jun gave an angry grunt and nodded. He'd speak to Aiba in the morning, that was for certain.

Morning came, and Jun was at Aibas front door before most of the neighborhood had woken up. He banged twice but didn't wait for an answer. Years ago, Aiba had given him a spare key to look after the place when he was away. He slid the key into the lock and pushed open the door loudly and slammed it behind him not caring if he woke the whole block.
Roused by the noise, Aiba padded from the bathroom in only his pants.
"Jun-kun...what you doing here so early? Is it even 8 yet? We don't have to do anything today do we?"
Aiba never even saw the punch coming until it was too late and he was sprawled across the rug on the living room floor.

-----

"Eughhh....What the hell?!!"
Aiba pushed himself to his knees as he spat blood onto the floor. Jun's punch had hit him square in the jaw. He'd not been expecting the attack, and he'd bit his tongue when Jun's clenched fist had struck his jaw. Looking up, the younger man now towered over him.
"Get up."
Aiba didn't obey.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Have you seriously lost your mind?" Blood trickled from the corner of Aiba's mouth as he pushed himself finally to his feet. Facing Jun, he stared at him in disbelief. Had he really just punched him? Properly?
"What's wrong with me? You're the one acting like an asshole and you even dare to ask what's wrong with me!" Jun was in his face now, eyes staring into Aibas just daring him to push him even further. Aiba simply stared right back.
"I don't know what you're on about." Aiba turned away, took a few steps but was yanked back by Juns hand around his arm. He tried to wrench it free but he had a strong grip. Aiba turned back to him and finally wrestled his arm out of Juns grip.
"Oh, I think you do! You think it's ok, huh? To act like you did last night in front of Sho? What were you trying to prove? How much of a cock you are?"
Aiba took a deep breath before he spoke, his eyes like fire now. "Act like what Jun? Act like a normal man maybe? I didn't realise it was wrong to be normal!"
"Oh cut the bullshit Aiba. You and I both know why you acted like you did. You just can't face up to the reality that you have feelings for Sho. You found some girl and used her as a way to show how much of a man you are. You're an idiot Aiba."
"I do not have feelings for Sho!!"
"Saying it again and again doesn't make it true. God...it's written all over you. You just can't deal with it. It's time you faced up to everything Aiba."

Time seemed to stand still as Aiba paced his apartment. Jun stood in the middle of the room, watching and waiting. His arms were folded, a bruise already showing itself on one hand. His face was tight with anger, his whole body tense. This was going to end one way or another, he'd make sure of it.
Silence filled the gap between them as Aiba struggled anew with his emotions. He knew exactly why he'd messed around with that girl, knew why he'd wanted to see Sho's face, and he knew why when he was kissing the girl they only person he could think about was Sho. It was wrong, and he was still trying to deny everything.
"You're right. I can't deal with it." Aibas voice sounded so far away, like he was just a shadow of his former self. "I think about him all the time, but...I can't let myself go down that road Jun."
"Why not?" Juns voice had mellowed too, maybe sensing a change in Aiba, knowing that he was finally ready to be honest with both him and to himself.
"Because....I don't know where it goes. I always thought that I would live happily with a beautiful girl, have a family too. But...then...I never expected to fall in love with my best friend." Jun smiled softly. There it was, finally.
"Love is a slippery thing Aiba. People spend years looking for it and never find it. When they stop looking...that's when they really find it. Love isn't something that can be planned or predicted. It hits you when you least expect it, and sometimes it's a shock. But honestly, are you that scared of love that you're willing to hurt everyone around you to avoid it?"
Aiba stared. Jun had always been wise beyond his years, and it was times like this that he wished he had the younger mans wisdom.
"Love?"
Aiba seemed to shrink as he contemplated the words. Did he love Sho? It was the first time he'd been brave enough to face the question head on since that night on the beach. God...that seemed so long ago now. Two weeks? Three weeks? But Jun was right, he had to face up to what had happened. As much as he wanted to run and hide from it, he couldn't. He was acting like an asshole all because of his own fear, and hurting those he cared for. The group would self destruct if he carried on.
He took a shuddering breath and squared his shoulders. "I....I've been an idiot. But Jun...I'm so scared by this."
"What's to be scared of Aiba? It's love right? Love isn't scary. It doesn't matter that it's Sho. The fact is that you have love. Don't let your fear of it stop you embracing it. Like I said, love is slippery. To have love you are blessed."
"But I've messed things up. Sho hates me."
"Far from it Aiba. Tell him how frightened you are, how you shouldn't have done the things you did. He'll understand."
Aiba padded across the room, his hand running through his hair. Could he? Should he? It was like he was finally being honest with himself after all these weeks of denial. Juns punch had snapped him back to reality, and he knew he couldn't hide from his own feelings anymore. No matter how much he wanted to.
"Really?"
"Really. But can I suggest something first?"
Aiba gave him a quizzical look. "Huh? What?"
"Put some damn clothes on."

The plan had been for Aiba to try and catch Sho at home that day, but when he called he wasn't in, or maybe not answering the door. He still wouldn't answer the calls that Aiba made to him, or reply to his e-mails. Aiba didn't really know what he wanted to say to Sho, but he knew he had to say something. He'd been an idiot, starting that night on the beach, and it was time for him to face up to everything he'd done and face up to the truth of the matter. He loved Sho. As much as it terrified him and confused him, he couldn't deny it. He had no idea what the future would hold for them, if anything at all, but he knew he had to at least make amends for the terrible person he'd been.
It was two days later when the five of them finally got together again. This time it was filming for Utaban. Usually Aiba enjoyed the times they spent there, carefree, just doing what they did best. Today though, it was strained and hard. The performances went well enough, each member focused on the job at hand. Mostly. It was only when they were done and they were watching the videos back that Aiba noticed that one of his stolen glances at Sho had been captured by the cameras. A flush of embarrassment, that tightening in his chest. Jun pretended not to notice, like Ohno and Nino were so good at doing. Sho though...Although pretending to be ignorant, his mouth twitched a little as he watched the tape back. Not a smile, not even close, just a nervous reaction, mainly anger.

"Well done for today guys!"
The five of them all lifted their glasses and toasted another job well done.
"It was fun!" exclaimed Nino, "I always like coming here."
The others nodded and gulped down their well deserved drinks. Jun and Ohno had already turned toward the food table when Sho suddenly spoke out.
"Eh...guys? Um..."
Everyone turned back, Ohno already with a mouthful of food. "What?"
"You know I'm doing the olympics right? Well, I know I wasn't supposed to leave for another ten days, but it looks like I'll be leaving a little sooner. Erm...tomorrow actually. I'll be back for a little bit before everything starts, but they want me to get a feel for the area and stuff before it all really begins. We're not doing any filming for a while, so hopefully it wont cause any problems."
Ohno, Nino and Jun shook their heads. "No, no..." Nino said, "Go for it Sho-kun!"
Everyone nodded. Everyone except Aiba who felt everything slipping from his grasp once again. Sho looked over, trying to read his reaction, but Aiba was simply staring at the floor. How was he supposed to fix things now? Sho wouldn't even be in the same country.

Welcome!

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:05:34 GMT

Welcome to my fiction journal. This is basically a dumping ground for my various fan-fiction rubbish that my brain sometimes makes me write when I should be doing other more productive things. I write under a pen-name because...well, just because I can, and I'm not sure those people I know really want to read my crappy writing.
I'm Arashi-biased, but is it really my fault that they just cry out for stupid stories to be written about them?
Anyway, just the usual things...Comments will make me happy, and so do friends!