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Meteor Bond (Chapter 5)
Pairing: All 5
Genre: Crossover, comedy, brotherhood, angst
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Plot 65% from me, 35% based on the real drama. The characters are not mine!
Summary: Based on Ryusei no Kizuna drama with slight change. 5 brothers sneaked out from their house to watch meteor shower but only found their parents were brutally murdered after returned home. 14 years later, the police unfortunately still could not find the culprit behind their parents death. The brothers meanwhile already become grown-up men and move to Tokyo, but still close with each other. They fill their days with laugh and funny quarrel despite of the deep grudge they hold toward their parents' murderer for the whole past years.
A/N: Their surname is Ariake.
Chapter 5 : Memories
The next morning, Sho wakes up by the sound of Satoshi and Jun are laughing from their living room. He knows that both guys are having their breakfast together when the next thing that enters his sense is delicious scent of Jun’s cooking. Slowly, he sits up while sighs heavily. After what happened last night, he has no idea how to interact with his brothers when he steps outside of the room later. So, for a moment Sho just stays in his bed while battling with his inner side before finally decides to climb out and face them.
Meanwhile, joyful mood is surrounding both Satoshi and Jun on the dining table.
“That sounds embarrassing.”
“I bet it is.”
They burst with another laugh. The conversation however abruptly stops when Sho’s bedroom door suddenly opens and reveals the second eldest from behind it. No one says anything until Sho closes back the door.
“Good morning, Sho.”
“Morning.”
Knowing that his eldest brother is going to invite the other one to join them, Jun immediately gets up from his place.
“Jun?”
“It is almost 9. I need to leave for my class now.”
Without waiting for the eldest further words, he walks to the kitchen with his dirty mug.
The awkward situation finally make Satoshi realizes how bad last night argument affects them. Furthermore, whenever any of them are having fight with each other, the one who always calm the situation down is Sho except when he is the one who was being teased of.
Sho later sits next to his eldest brother. Right after he shoves the first clump of rice into his mouth, Jun finally comes out from the kitchen and moves to grab for his bag on the couch without saying a word. Even when Jun is tying shoelaces on the doorstep, the apartment is still as silent as no one is living there. The air is so tense that even anyone who does not see the last night's incident could realize there is something bad happen between them before.
“I’m working half day today.”
Finally, he speaks after a few minutes Jun closes the front door. Hearing that, Satoshi immediately looks up from looking his mug.
“…I see. So you’re going to the office after lunch?”
Sho nods. Both guys then fall into silence again when Sho continues to eat his breakfast while Satoshi takes the last gulp of his coffee. Later, the older one places his mug back to the table and looks up with a worry face.
“Are you okay?”
“Hmm? Yeah. Why are you asking?”
“You look troubled.”
The younger one abruptly stops from eating. Seeing the reaction, Satoshi calmly fixes his gaze on Sho with a sigh.
“If you’re still thinking about last night, I’m sure it’ll be solved later by you guys own selves.”
“I know.”
“You need to stop from bearing with anything alone for the sake of us. I’m happy to know that you’re really cared about this family, but let me know if there’s something in your mind.”
He continues when Sho shows no sign of protesting.
“Like what Kazu told you before, sharing is caring. You should stop carrying all burdens alone. We are family right?”
However, the other one still not utter any word. The response makes Satoshi to finally sigh in defeat and lift his dirty mug and bowl into the kitchen. After he comes out from washing the stuff, he found Sho already back into his meal.
“I’m off for work now.”
The younger brother just nods without looking up.
Later, a click sound comes from the door. Realizing that he finally left alone, Sho immediately gets up and brings all his half empty bowls and plates into the sink. As he let water from the tap running and splash into his unfinished food, the memory of last night suddenly rushes into his mind; making him to feel frustrate and confuse more than last night. Now, after a very long time struggles to find for any hint that might lead to the culprit, the mystery behind their parents’ dead finally will find it way out.
He knows he supposes to be grateful about it.
However, when he saw Masaki and Kazu wanted to leave their apartment last night, he suddenly felt terrified more than he ever felt before. No matter how much he wants the murderer to die as much as his brothers want, he could not bear the result and lose them like their parents already did. After all, once they find out the truth from the restaurant's owner later, maybe it will expose them with danger and might be cost his brothers’ life which is more important than his. Losing them is the thing that he afraid most. Although previous Satoshi’s words are all correct, it still cannot stop him from worrying about their safety.
‘I should realize the consequences earlier.’
As he closes the tap, a hiss escapes between his lips. Sho then just leaves those unwashed dishes behind and storms into his room. As he leans on it, he brings his palm to his face and sighs.
He hates this tearing apart feeling. No matter how hard he tries to hide his resentment for the sake of seeing his brothers' smile and not to think so much about their past before, this time he could not hold back anymore.
“It’s not us who suppose to suffer now.”
Sho grasps his hand into a tight fist. As his eyes dart to the hundreds of articles that stick on part of his room’s wall, he unconsciously grabs for the empty mug on his working desk and throws it hardly into the hateful memories. Sound of shattered glass echo inside the room when he sits on his working desk while panting. Those numbers of newspaper and magazines’ about their parents’ case that he purposely sticks there are the main reason why he never let any of his brothers to step inside his personal space. He took years to collect any information from any source he can, but only end up more stress for could not express his feelings out. At first he actually aims to finish the matter by himself so he can avoid his brothers from dirtying their hands, but maybe this time Satoshi is right.
“We are family right?”
He then grabs for his mobile phone and dial for his workplace’s number. After informing that he will take a full day off, Sho quickly changes his clothes into the casual one before grabs for his wallet and makes his way out to somewhere.
=*=*=*=*=*=
“The weather looks good.”
The fishing lover mumbles while his hand wiping the window in front of him. Somehow, it makes him happy as he knows that sunny day is not a right time to go for fishing or he might feel misery for could not sail today.
“Tuna…”
“Natto.”
Satoshi turns around immediately.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think that’s my question. Why are you cleaning the same place since 10 minutes ago?”
His worker blinks confusedly. Seeing the reaction, George laughs by his own silliness.
“How come I forget that you’re always like this? I shouldn’t ask such a stupid question.”
“Well, being forgetful is a hint of becoming old folk, George-san.”
George flinches by the sudden voice. His clumsy action makes Kazu to explode with laugh while Satoshi frowns by his younger brother's unexpected appearance in there.
“Why are you here? You’re supposed to be working at dessert café now, aren’t you?”
“Well, I’m a hot guy. So my boss told me ‘You’re fired’.”
“What?”
Kazu just replies his question with a wink. Seeing his younger brother moves to sit on the counter’s seat, Satoshi quickly makes his way to the storage room to put all cleaning stuff into its place. Later, he comes out and stands behind the serving counter to have face to face talk with the other one.
“Don’t tell me you’re asking for a tip from every customer you served and your boss find out about it.”
“Oi. I know I’m carving for money now, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to do that. I’ve pride also.”
“Then why?”
The fourth brother sighs. Sooner or later his brothers are going to find out anyway.
“Actually, I resigned. Kashiwabara inspector found me working there and he keeps coming since a week ago to see me.”
Satoshi freezes. At the same time, George suddenly comes with a plate of curry rice and a big glass of juice for the younger one.
“The inspector was the one who investigated your parents’ case, wasn’t it?”
“Thanks. Yep.”
“What he wants?”
“He just wants to see how I am doing recently. Seems he believes it when Aniki told him that all of us lost contact with each other already.”
Just when he is ready to dig his food, he suddenly stops and looks up at them.
“He also said that he meet Masa after he bumped into Aniki at the cemetery before.”
“Oh, I still remember about that. When Satoshi had his two days off a week ago, the inspector came here and greeted Masaki. Masaki looked a bit pale when saw his face.”
Satoshi and Kazu immediately look at him.
“Why you didn’t tell me?”
“I thought Masaki told you guys about it already. Is he still not recovered from it yet?”
“We’re actually still not so sure about it. It’d been years since the last time he got it. Also, you’re the principal on duty when we’re still living in the orphanage back then. There’s no way you can’t see if there’s something wrong with Masa at that time right?”
“I can’t read him all the time, okay? Besides, both of you are his brother so aren’t you guys should understand him more than I?”
Kazu snorts by the rightness. His eldest brother on the other hand finally remembers how different Masaki’s expression was when he came to their apartment a week ago.
“Masaki likes to hide it whenever something is bothering him. He and Sho are really alike, aren’t they?”
Hearing the second brother’s name, both Satoshi and Kazu’s face drastically change. George who totally has no idea with what just happen just look at their face one by one with full of confusion.
“Did I say something wrong?”
Immediately, Satoshi shakes his head.
“But Kazu, I think it’s not that bad if you already quit from one of your jobs. You always look tired when you come to our place.”
“No, I’m not. Plus, there’s no reason why I couldn’t do double jobs when Aniki did triple jobs on a same day before.”
“But I think your salary from working at George’s renting video shop is quite high already. If you need money to pay for your house rent, your girlfriend still can cover half of it right?”
“Yes she can, but I’m not a man if I let her pay for it. I was doing two jobs so I can cover the whole rent by myself. She just needs to buy the groceries.”
Calmly then, the youngest among the three continues with his eating. Meanwhile, Satoshi looks at his own brother in disbelieve while George is jaw hanging beside him in astonishment. In a blink of eyes, their impression that Kazu will always being so cheapskate and money grabber anytime and anywhere change 180 degrees. After all, how many guys are willing to do that for the sake of their lover?
“You’re a true man, dude!”
“Yeah, I know that. No need to mention it~”
He gives the café owner a killer smile with a wink. George meanwhile gapes in shock before suddenly pats his shoulder with a wide grin.
“Since you’re a good guy, I demand you to work here.”
“Eh?”
“Really?! Then please take care of me from today!”
As he stands up excitedly, George immediately offers his hand for a handshake. Kazu grins by it before grabs the other one hand which later makes the other customers who are coincidentally there clap their hands all of sudden. Satoshi on the other hand just chuckle in amused. It is really beyond his expectation to finally free from the ‘doing all alone’ abuse and at a same time, having his own brother to become his coworker today. Though, he knows it will still not stop the younger one from asking him for pocket money after Sho’s threat already ‘expired’ anyway.
After George continues with his job at the kitchen again, Kazu back to shove the curry rice into his mouth. A new customer later suddenly enters the café.
“Welco-eh?”
Hearing the other one's confusion voice, Kazu immediately looks at the entrance.
“…Sho-nii.”
Sho meanwhile just approaches the two guys before he finally stops right next to the fourth brother's seat.
“We need to talk.”
=*=*=*=*=*=
After more than an hour sitting in train, Masaki finally reaches his next destination which is the place where he and his brothers were born. While walking to the exit door, his eyes roam all over the place; enjoying the long-time-no-see sight since this is his first time to be in Yokosuka after 4 years. As he finally stands outside of the station, he does some stretching to loosen his almost numb muscles. The same view of the city could not help but makes him suddenly to feel so excited.
“I’m finally home, everyone!!!”
He happily shouts with both arms in air. Some people there look at him weirdly, but he could just careless about it and happily heads to the old house of his family. Fortunately, the road is still same despite of a lot of new development happen there. After about 15 minutes walk, the cheerful guy finally stops in front of an old and gloomy restaurant. The place totally could not fit its theme as family restaurant anymore as it has been abandoned for so long. Feeling like he is teary already, Masaki quickly rubs his eyes and pursues his lips determinedly. He then reaches for the doorknob and twist it to get inside.
“Oh? Why are you coming here Masa?”
The sudden voice makes him jump aback.
“You surprise me!”
Jun laughs. Pouting, the older brother immediately closes the door and walks to sit next to Jun who already having his place comfortably in front the dusty serving counter.
“Someone was following you right? Isn’t it dangerous to stay alone here?”
“Don’t worry. I’d make sure no one follow me to here.”
Masaki just nods even though deep inside he is still worried about the younger one. Noticing it, Jun quickly changes the topic.
“We haven’t clean up this place for 4 years. It’s all dusty already.”
“Yeah.”
Both guys silently observe every part of the restaurant. That place holds so much good memory about their childhood. They somehow still can see how their dad was busy creating a new masterpiece recipe, how their mom was serving the customers, how Satoshi was silently drawing on his sketch book at the corner seat, while Sho was so immersed whether with studying or finishing his homework in some spot, and Masaki was playing with a stray cat that he secretly hid. Kazu on the other hand was busied with his newly bought Gameboy for his 7th years old birthday gift while Jun was reading some storybooks which had simple Hiragana characters on it beside him.
Later, their gaze stops at the left open thin door paper which is separating the living room and the restaurant space. It was the place where their parents were found bloody and dead. All of their childhood memory now is nothing, but a beautiful and hurting past.
Realizing how tense the mood is, Masaki nudges his brother.
“Shall we clean this place then?”
“Now?”
“Yep!”
“Okay.”
“Yeay!”
“You do, I watch.”
“Oka-!”
His excitement eyes change into confusion when Jun’s words replay in his mind. Seeing the younger one is now giggling, Masaki finally grasps the meaning.
“Hey!”
Jun’s giggle turns to hard laugh immediately.
“You’re so slow!”
“I’m being dead serious here! How could you, Jun!”
However, Jun just calmly return his furious gaze.
“I’m kidding, okay? You’re such a kid.”
“Am not.”
“Okay then. I believe you.”
He chuckles when Masaki starts to snort.
“By the way, why are you here? You don’t have a class today?”
“It got canceled. I just suddenly missed this place after eating last night Hayashi Rice, so I took a train to get here.”
The younger brother then looks around the place again. Masaki could see how sad Jun’s expression is despite of the smile on his face. Soon, Jun suddenly looks at him again.
“What happened last night? Did you and Kazu went to the restaurant?”
“We did, but the restaurant almost closed already. Even the workers didn’t let us to see their boss at all. They thought we’re just bunch of people who want to copy their Hayashi Rice recipe.”
“That’s not theirs. I’m hundred percent positive it is dad.”
He snorts furiously. If those workers are in front of him now, he absolutely will finish them by his own hands.
“Kazu and I can’t go to that place again. They already recognized our face.”
“It’s fine. We can think other way. Plus, Aniki…Sho-nii and I still can go there if it’s needed.”
The sudden stops when saying their second eldest's name makes Masaki frowns. Meanwhile, Jun suddenly grabs for his bag and opens it to look for something. As he takes out a can of cold coffee from inside it, the older one finally could bring himself to ask.
“Is everything okay in house?”
Jun sighs before shake lightly the coffee with a calm face.
“Well, just some small matter between me and Sho-nii. It’s not something interesting though.”
“What? What happen?”
“Sort of…fight? No. it’s more like argument for me. Don’t mind it. It’s not a big deal.”
He then opens the can. Seeing his elder brother still bothered by his words, Jun immediately passes his coffee to the other one.
“Here. You must be thirsty.”
Masaki pursues his lips and nods. After he takes the coffee and gulps some of it, he looks at Jun again with a smile.
“Thanks.”
“It’s okay. After all, I heard that anyone who drinks can coffee as soon as it opens in this restaurant will follow by a creepy dark thing until him or her die.”
“EEEEEEHHHH????”
The statement makes the innocent older brother clumsily wipes the coffee stain on his mouth. Panicky then, he passes Jun the can in his hand before turns to his back for looking the dark thing that Jun mentions before.
“Just want to let you know. It’s looking at you right from under your feet.”
His words make Masaki immediately crouches down on his seat. Worried if the thing have a mouth to eat his feet, Masaki fearfully looks below his chair and snorts in irritated.
“You’re fooling me again! It’s actually my shadow!”
“Uh-huh. Just kidding~”
Jun calmly takes a sip of his coffee while the older one sits properly back on the chair. Furious by it, Masaki angrily gets up and snatches back the coffee from Jun’s hand. Seeing he is trying to drink the whole can, Jun quickly stands up and tries to stop him. Soon, someone all of sudden pulls open the restaurant’s door from outside. Both guys stop in abrupt with whatever they are doing and immediately look at the sudden guest.
“Are you the late Ariake-san’s sons?”
“Yes we are. Are you Ebi-ji chan?”
The old man smiles happily when Jun still remember him. On the other hand, Masaki turns to Jun beside him with full of confusion.
“Who’s he?”
“When you’re having high fever when you’re 8, Ebi-ji chan had paid a visit to mom and dad after he just moved to this neighborhood. Aniki and Sho-nii maybe barely remember him cause they’re only meeting him once, but Kazu and I always use the path in front of his seafood shop when we’re heading back to George’s orphanage from school. That's why I still can remember his face clearly.”
“So, you and Kazu must be really close with ji chan, right?”
He frowns when Jun does not say anything. Soon, the old man approaches them.
“May I look around? I want to see this place before, but since you guys are not here, I think it’s not appropriate for me to just get inside.”
“Sure.”
With a smile, the old man starts to walk around there. His eyes wonder every part of the restaurant while the two young guys behind watch him without saying anything. This time, Masaki clearly can see how tense Jun’s expression is with his eyes look at anywhere but the old man. He knows there is definitely something wrong happened between them. Carving for an explanation, Masaki looks up and wants to ask the old man who is now standing in front of the living room. He however freezes when the man is about to takes off his shoes and steps inside the space.
Soon, the coffee can immediately loosens from his grip.
“Masa?”
Jun turns to him when the empty can rebounds on the floor under them. Seeing Masaki does not give any response, he worriedly moves closer to ask if there is something wrong. That is when he finally realizes about the other one's already trembling hands.
“Masa, don’t tell me you-”
He however does not manage to finish it when Masaki suddenly crouches down while closing his eyes tightly. The third brother's face looks really pale as his arms all of a sudden tightly hug his knees. Just when he almost buries his terrified face on his kneecaps, Jun quickly stops him by touching his face to keep looking up.
“B-Blood.”
“It’s fine now. There’s no blood anymore. Calm down and breath.”
Jun starts to panic when tears flow down from the older brother’s eyes.
“I-I see mom a-and dad…”
“They’re gone, Masa. It’s fine. It’s over already. Trust me.”
“What’s wrong, boys?”
The two guys now already gained the old man’s attention. Seeing him gradually come closer to them, Masaki fearfully grips on Jun’s shirt.
“M-Make him st-top. M-Make h-him st-top.”
“Guys?”
“Ebi-ji chan, don’t come any closer.”
The older one stops, but still frowning.
“But-”
“Just stay there. Don’t move any closer.”
Jun receives a questioning stare from the old man. Yet ignoring it, Jun immediately looks at his brother again and pats gently the other one's hair with a reassure tone.
“I’m here with you. Calm down.”
Masaki however just continue to mumble about something. At first, Jun could not hear what it is about, but as soon as it is getting clearer, he widens his eyes in surprised and turns to the old man who is still looking at them.
“What’s wrong?”
The man tries to step ahead which makes Masaki to panic again.
“Stay away!”
“But-”
“STOP RIGHT THERE!”
Jun angrily returns his gaze. Pissed off by it, the older man finally lost his patience and stormed out from the place. Seeing the disappearance of their uninvited guest, Jun brings his eyes back to his older brother and wipes his tears away. He almost succeeds to calm Masaki down before the sudden shouts from the same seafood seller from outside startles both him and the other one.
“Help! The sons of the late Ariake-san tried to injure me! They’re inside there!”
“What?!”
Loud noises suddenly come from outside the door a second later. Jun on the other hand quickly helps Masaki to get up and leave the place, but it is already too late when the old man before suddenly storms inside there with sellers and housewives behind him.
“I tried to stop them from destroying this place, but they didn’t want to listen to me!”
“Liar! You never stop from telling lies about our family!”
Masaki who is already had a bit of conscious startles by his words. However, none of the residents there seems believe with what Jun said. They are only staring them suspiciously while whispering to each other. Among those people, Jun found his stalker is quietly watching them.
“Who are you?! Why are you here?!”
The stalker just shrugs.
“He’s my son! Don’t you dare to shout at him!”
Only God know how angry Jun is when heard the old liar says that. He almost steps forward to punch that shameless face, but Masaki reacts faster by grabbing the younger one's arm with his still trembling hand. Despite of his still unstable emotion, at least they must avoid to make thing worst since it is obvious that man is planning something on them.
-to be continued-
#This story suddenly turn out angsty and a new character appears...Anyway, what will happen to them? Thanks a LOT for still following! ;)
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*pat your back* At least when Nino resign from there, he's going to work with Ohno ;)
That old man and his son are alike ne...Because of them Jun and Aiba in big trouble now :(
Thank You So much for still reading!I'm grateful to know that XD
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Well Aiba is my 'ichi' indeed and Jun is someone who I hope to have as a younger brother ;)
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