Meteor Bond (Chapter 7)

[24iza_run]

Title: Meteor Bond
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 7 : A step forward

               Despite the creepy letter that they just receive last night, the Ariake brothers decide to ignore it since there was no threat or warn was stated in it. So on the next morning, Satoshi and Kazu leave for their work like normal with Masaki and Jun follow them, so they can get ready for their mission to enter the fancy restaurant which its Hayashi Rice meal’s taste was just like their father’s and see the owner. When Satoshi and Kazu are preparing to open their workplace, George finally arrive, but later shock when see Jun’s sleeping face on his café’s counter. Even Masaki who is sitting beside the young one could not help but feel worried considering that maybe Jun does not have enough sleep after patrolling around their apartment to look for the letter’s sender so he can wreck that person until dead.

“Just make him wake up already, Masa. We need to talk before he goes to the restaurant.”

Masaki sighs before moves to shake gently Jun’s folded arms with his head on top of it. Seeing the other one has zero intention to wake up, the third brother immediately looks at Kazu again.

“It won’t work. He’s still tired and you also know he’s not a morning person.”

The moment Masaki finishes his sentence, Kazu suddenly stops at the other side of the counter with clean glass in his hands. He places it to the rack nearby before turn to Jun silently. All of a sudden then, he gives a very hard smack on the youngest head which forces the sleeping guy to immediately wake up while Masaki flinches beside him; surprised by the fourth brother's daring action. The third brother can feel his heartbeat increases when Jun starts to spread his killer aura into the air around them.

“WHICH IDIOT JUST HIT MY HEAD?!”

“The idiot who is sitting next to you.”

Poor Masaki widens his eyes and clumsily turns to the evil Kazu. He however only found the other one calmly continues to arrange the clean glass again before move to the kitchen to put some fresh vegetables into the refrigerator.

“Can’t you be gentler to make me up?! It hurts, you know?!”

“But it’s not me! Go and ask that game freak over there!”

He however turn to pale by Jun’s death glare as answer. Fortunately the younger one has no mood to be a Do-S or maybe the third brother already had been sliced into pieces. Soon, Satoshi comes out with two cups of coffee for both his two younger brothers. Kazu only join them a moment later and lean forward on the counter.

“So what’s the plan?”

Jun asks while sipping his coffee.

“You’re going to the restaurant and try to find a way to see the owner.”

“But like Sho-nii said, it will be less suspicious and maybe not so dangerous if Jun goes there with someone. Can’t Aniki come with him?”

“I just asked a leave from George yesterday. It’s not nice if I ask for it again today.”

Masaki palms his chin worriedly.

“Don’t worry. Someone will voluntary accompany Jun.”

“Who? Both of us can’t enter that restaurant again right?”

“That’s why none of us are going to, but her.”

As Kazu starts to curve with a smirk, the cheerful brother immediately widens his eyes while Jun groaning in frustration beside him. Someone then all of sudden storms into the restaurant and gives a tight hug to their Aniki.

“Toshii!!! I miss you!!!”

Seeing Sagi starts to snuggle her face more on Satoshi’s shoulder, Masaki chuckles amusedly and gives an understanding pat to Jun. The latter meanwhile already spins his chair around from facing the lady who he found is so annoying.

“Why from thousands of people in this planet it should be her?”

Hearing that, Sagi slowly let go of Satoshi’s body. She then realizes about Jun’s presence there as well.

“Ah. So, Son Goku is here too, huh?”

Jun immediately turns to face her.

“Did you say something, old woman?”

His forever enemy leans forward while raising her eyebrow immediately.

“Are you asking me for a fight?”

“Glad too.”

Jun almost gets up from his seat by the challenge, but Kazu manage to cut both side at the right moment. After all, they have more important thing to discuss first.

“Jun, she will accompany you to the restaurant so you will look less suspicious or the workers maybe will find out our intention. What you’re going to do there after that will be up to yourself. We believe you can find a way to see the boss or maybe do anything necessary to confirm whether the owner really has anything to do with dad’s recipe book or not.”

“Got it.”

“Wow. That’s the longest sentence I ever heard come from you, Aniki.”

Both Masaki and Jun laugh. Then, the eldest among them turns to Sagi.

“We’re hoping you to assist Jun.”

“Roger! There’s no problem as long as Toshi told me to!”

Jun roll his eyes when the lady give Satoshi a salute.

“How about the money? The food there is quite expensive.”

Kazu suddenly taps their third brother’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry. That’s why he’s here.”

“Eh? Isn’t it Aniki’s job?”

“Sho banned me from give them money for two months. Or…my fishing rods will be ‘suspended’.”

Masaki chuckles by it. Soon, he shoves out some bills of money from inside his wallet before passes his wallet to Jun.

“We still have no idea how much the food will cost, so keep it with you. Just don’t throw it away! I know how much you and Kazu love to bully me! Or buy new clothes! I don’t give this for that!”

“I’m not THAT desperate okay? Now, let me sleep for a while. That restaurant only will open at 3.”

“No, no, no, no. Your work is to help Aniki in the kitchen. Masa, you will take the order.”

“What? You and Aniki are the employees here. Why we need to help you guys?”

They surprise when George all of a sudden comes out from the storage room with two aprons. After he passes it to Masaki and Jun, he grabs for his bag nearby and rests his hands on his hip while grinning at them.

“Cause I asked them too. There’s a small open concert will be held not far from here so during lunch this place will be so busy. Satoshi and Kazu definitely can’t handle all of them since my wife and I have a date today, so thanks guys.”

“But-!”

“I’m late! Bye!”

As George quickly takes his leave, both his two workers give him their wave with a smile. The other two Ariake brothers meanwhile exchange look with each other in disbelief. Even though Jun is still sleepy and Masaki is actually want to enjoy his rare full day off like today, seems both of them have no choice but listen.

=*=*=*=*=*=

“What a misfortune for me to have an early dinner with you here. Just if Toshi is free enough to come instead of you…”

Jun snorts when the lady in front him cannot stop her nag with a furious pout. The decoration inside the restaurant indeed nice for a lover, coworkers or family to enjoy their dinner together but since he needs to sit face to face with Sagi now, the place suddenly becomes extremely annoying in his eyes. Later, a waiter comes to give them the restaurant’s menu which almost popped Jun’s eyes out. Back then when the group date was held there, everything was planned by his friends so he never thought it will be that expensive. As he examines worriedly the price, Sagi who is supposed to be a regular customer there without hesitant asks the waiter for a plate of 15 thousand yen spaghetti, high quality beef steak and slice of limited handmade cake which almost chocked Jun in surprised.

“What about you?”

She suddenly turns to him. For a while, Jun just tries his best to think what he should do. Just when he almost looks up to ask for only a glass of plain water, an idea unexpectedly enters his mind.

“Serve us the most expensive today’s recommend along with the most expensive dessert and ice cream with a glass of old red wine. Also lobster and Hayashi Rice for her, please.”

“Certainly, sir.”

With a bow the waiter takes his leave. Sagi on the other hand jaw hanging by it. Soon, she turns around to look at Masaki who is watching them from the opposite cafe not far sympathetically. She has no idea what that poor older brother is going to do when he finds out about Jun’s so extravagance order despite of her also merciless orders’ price just then.

“What’s wrong with her?”

Meanwhile, Masaki could not help but frown when he realizes Sagi is now looking at him; hesitant whether it is a sign that they need his help or otherwise. He then receives a message from Jun, telling what the younger one just did and to not worry about anything.

“Well…at least I can trust Jun more than Kazu.”

He tilts his head thoughtfully before looks at the restaurant’s window again.

Back to the fancy restaurant, Jun is tapping his finger on the table. His calm action makes Sagi to almost ask why he does it, but stop when Jun is much faster to open his mouth.

“If there’s anything you want, just order.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yep.”

Several minutes later the waiter comes with their order. The waiter still has not put their plate yet when Sagi suddenly rains him with numerous name of delicious meal with half of it has a price that might give Masaki heart attack when he finds out later. She expects Jun to scold her when the waiter leaves again with slight wrinkling forehead, but Jun seems does not care about it at all. Soon, the waiter comes again with a bottle of red wine for them. Just when Sagi almost have a sip of it, Jun takes that chance to purposely kick her leg, makes her to spill some of the wine on her face. Some nearby customers immediately turn to their place by her gasp.

“I know you’re starving till death, but no need to be so greedy.”

The other staring customers start to whisper or giggle by his words. Both side then only return each other glare until the waiter finally comes again with another order.

“WELL, at least zip your fly first. The PINK color is sparkling you know.”

She smirks when the waiter gapes by her words. Jun on the other hand widens his eyes and change to slight red when the nearby customers now are giggling at him. Fortunately for the whole meal until dessert Jun manages to hold back his anger or maybe he already wrecks her right there, woman or not woman. Finally, Sagi finishes almost their entire dinner with Jun only drinks a glass of plain water and eats a beef steak. Both just stay in quiet as Jun starts to type a message for his third brother and wait until the older one go to wait outside of the restaurant’s entrance.

“Take my brother’s wallet and run from here as fast as you can.”

Sagi widens her eyes when she feels Jun is tapping her knee with Masaki’s wallet from under the table.

“But how about you?”

“Just do it.”

She frowns. A second later, she grabs for the wallet and quickly makes her way to the door which gains attention from each person inside there. After make sure that Masaki follows his request to drag Sagi away as fast as possible, Jun immediately gets up.

“HOW COULD YOU!”

Now every pair of eyes there moves to his hurting face. Almost immediately, the restaurant’s manager runs to him.

“What’s wrong, sir?”

“She’s cheating on me! She said her parents never celebrate her birthday, so I bring her here to make her happy! I even let her to have anything she wants! Then she said she will pay for the bill at the counter, so I gave my wallet. But…”

Jun then bites his lower lip.

“…She took it away with her.”

Sound of gasps and whispers become louder inside the restaurant. Every pair of eyes there now look at Jun; feel sorry with the charming guy’s misfortune. The manager meanwhile pursues his lips thoughtfully.

“She always comes here. But she never leaves without pay.”

“Since she said she love this place a lot, I gave her money to eat whatever she wants here. Every time she asked me to bring her, I had important things to do so I can’t come with her. B-But I never thought she actually planned to choose the day when I was busy and only played with my feelings.”

The manager looks at him sympathetically.

“I-I really can’t believe you’re the one who paid for her this whole time. Do you want me to call the police?”

“No. I can’t see the police to arrest her. I-I still have a feelings toward her.”

People there stunned to hear his ‘kindnesses’.

“But you still need to pay for her meal. I know I sound cruel, but I must ask you to pay for these. Just if I’m the boss here…”

“I-It’s fine. How about I work here until I settle all my debt?”

“But it’s her fault. And it’s not your debt. It’s supposed to be the other way round.”

“No. it’s okay.”

The manager sighs. Soon, he sadly nods and brings Jun to the kitchen to tell what he should do while promising that he will never let Sagi to enter the place again. All the customers there also just shake their head or mock how could the ‘girlfriend’ of a good boyfriend like Jun could do something like that.

On the other hand however, Jun is curving with a smirk. Seems it is not so hard to enter the back side like he thought. Plus, who dare to embarrass him definitely will feel ashamed countless time more as a payback 'gift'.

=*=*=*=*=*=

The next day, all of the Ariake brothers except for Jun are having some walk together since it is public holiday and George already told Satoshi and Kazu yesterday that he is going to open the café late. To Satoshi, Sho, Kazu and even Sagi who ‘accidentally’ bumped into them surprise, Masaki have unexpected news about Jun for them.

“Since Kazu and I find out that the place have no vacancy, Jun got an idea to make the restaurant to take him instead. So he told Kagi-chan to bring my wallet with her when she ran away from there and pretended like he was used by her.”

“SO HE WAS JUST USING ME?! THAT BASTARD! HE DESTROYS MY GOOD IMAGE THERE! By the way, I’m NOT Kagi!”

Sho chuckles in amused.

“Jun is a genius.”

The place echoes with loud thud when Sagi angrily knock Sho’s head to the light pole beside them. As the poor guy falls to crouch down on the ground while crying painfully, Kazu calmly gives a pat on his older brother's back.

“You really have no luck with girl, Sho-nii.”

“Ugh…Shut up.”

He sniggers when Sho shoots him a glare.

“Anyway, Jun succeeded to get inside there. It was such a brilliant idea.”

“Did the manager bring him to see the owner?”

“Not yet. Seems the owner is not around for a business trip. But he will return today. Then, the owner will decide if Jun’s work yesterday was enough to settle the entire debt or not.”

“How much it cost?”

They frown when Masaki look hesitant to say it. Soon, he waves his brothers to come closer before whispers the total debt into their ears.

“WHAT???”

“Well…after Jun sees the owner and asks him about dad’s book, we can pay it for him. Let’s hope his work yesterday maybe already cover half of its total amount...”

“Why did he order so much?! Does it needs for him to do that?!”

“The more is better actually. It will make the restaurant’s staff to feel sympathy with him and believe that what he said is true consider that…Sagi always spend a lot of money there too.”

Sho immediately hides behind Masaki when Sagi ready to knock him on head again. The only lady among them then pouts furiously before moves to clinging on Satoshi’s arm.

“Toshii~ why you told them that I love to go there a lot?”

“To be more exact, it’s YOU who told us yesterday since you’re hoping so much that Aniki will be your partner to go there.”

Sagi tightens her hands around Satoshi’s arm by the mock. It however does not take so long before Sagi let the other one go and bid him a very happy ‘see you later’ wish when the Aniki just told her ‘leave’. The eldest Ariake son then almost continue to walk on when he realizes that his other three younger brothers behind still stand on the same place; stunned by how great their Aniki was for able to tame Sagi easily.

“Guys?”

His younger brothers startle and run to catch up him immediately.

“Thankfully Jun didn’t use my wallet at all.”

Masaki happily shove out his wallet and kiss it. The other guys laugh by his action, but later frown when the cheerful brother suddenly stop and look at his wristwatch in horrified.

“I’m late! My workplace has an important order to finish today!”

“Be careful then. The stalker might be following you.”

“I live by my own since I was 16 okay? Don’t worry. See you guys later!”

And he quickly dashes away from there. Meanwhile, his brothers just silently watch him to leave them behind until the other one run into a light pole when he wants to take the shortcut on his right. Sho and Kazu startle when Masaki immediately sits on the ground with a painful whine, but later, waves them with an okay look and continues to run again.

“Seriously, is he going to be fine?”

“No idea.”

“I wonder how many light poles already became his victims since he was 16.”

His statement gains hard laugh from the second and fourth brothers. Seeing their cheerful brother finally disappears from their sight, the three Ariake brothers continue with their journey to the train’s station. It only takes around an hour for them to reach their hometown, so 75 minutes later they finally stood outside of Yokosuka’s station.

“Be careful so that old folk won’t find us.”

The other two brothers nod. They had plan to go there yesterday after they find out Masaki need to work today and Jun as well must show up himself at the fancy restaurant again. After walk for some more minutes, the scene of their old house finally come into their sight. This time however they just keep on waking and do not even glance on it. No matter how much they missed the place, their target now is locked to see where and what kind of life that old man who almost sends Masaki and Jun into jail and destroys their family name this entire time has. Since it is public holiday it could be say that they are safe for now since every single store there are closed. Later, they almost walk pass a fresh fruit store. The middle age female owner is busy carrying the new arrival stock of oranges into her shop when she accidentally drops it. Panic to see her fruits roll to everywhere, she quickly tries to pick all of it and surprise when see three guys are helping her.

“Thank you.”

They just smile and continue to pick all the oranges up. After make sure there is not even a single fruit left outside, she quickly bows at them.

“You guys are really kind for helping me out. Thanks again.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Ma’am, do you know anything about the closed family restaurant just few building from here?”

Satoshi and Kazu immediately turn to him; surprise to hear such a risky question. Unexpectedly, the woman seems does not realize yet who they are.

“If you’re talking about Ariake’s restaurant, the place already closed since around 13 or 14 years ago. The owner and his wife were murdered but seems the murderer hasn’t been found yet.”

Judging by the way she talked, they can see this woman loves to babble a lot. The surprising thing then comes out from her mouth.

“But it’s good for them.”

“W-Why are you saying that?”

“Well, years ago Ariake-san was the only one who let thugs to become his customers. Since he said we shouldn’t discriminate people if we wanted that kind of people to change, we let him do what he want. But after his death, the thugs started to make trouble by kicked almost every store’s rubbish bin and made noise during midnight.”

“But it seems has nothing to do with that Ariake restaurant's owner right?”

“It does. If not Ebi-san was the only one who dare to stop the thugs and called for the police, maybe we will never live in peace like now. After that we find out from Ebi-san that he actually ever seen Ariake-san and the thugs gambled together and asked loan shark to let him to borrow their money. He’s actually the real person behind our trouble!”

Satoshi and Sho now try their best to put a calm face while Kazu tightening his fist until his knuckle turn to white. They know their father was not that kind of person. Long time ago they also told their mom and dad to do not let any bad or homeless people to get inside the restaurant after their classmates keep mocking them about it, but their parents unexpectedly scolded them as return. The role model who taught them to not judging people by look was no one but their own parents.

“By the way, who are you guys? I never see any of you around here.”

The three of them startle by it. Even though they wanted to leave as fast as they could before they get busted, the last person they want to see approaches them out of their aware.

“Ah! Ebi-san! Walking around?”

“Yeah. It’s such a good weather today right?”

The old accuser walks closer with a smile. Seems, they have no way to cover themselves anymore now.

“This old bastard.”

Kazu almost attack the other one if Satoshi does not stop him at the right moment. 14 years had passed but he will never forget that hateful face. The old man then finally realizes about their existence there before looks at his neighbor in front.

“Who are they?”

Hearing that, the three of them immediately look at the old man with surprised look.

“These gentlemen here helped me to pick all my oranges. I just told them about you.”

Swiftly, Kazu turns around before stomp away with Sho follow him immediately from behind in a same angry and frustrated look. Satoshi however still stand on the same place. As he returns the old man questioning gaze, he just bow down his head a bit and walks from there. Later, he founds his brothers are leaning behind several building away from the fruits store place before sink to the ground.

“What the hell is happening now?”

Sho rubs his face, stress by the unexpected outcome.

“At first I thought he was pretending. But if he dare to set up Masa and Jun only on their first meeting after a long time not meet with each other, there’s no reason for him to act like he never see us before.”

Kazu meanwhile just silently listen to his older brothers while gritting his teeth and clump his hand into a very tight fist. They are more than sure the old man was the one sent them the letter before. However, the reaction that he just showed to them was wrong. If he was the one who behind this stalking stuff, he supposes to know how their face look alike. Since Jun was the one who told him that he and Masaki are from Ariake, it was not weird if that old man did not hesitant to trap them despite of the impossibility of him to discover their already adult faces after 14 years did not meet each other. But for him, Satoshi and Sho who did not say anything about their selves before, of course no one will know who they actually are unless that person was the mastermind behind the stalked. Immediately, the youngest among them gives out a stressful sigh.

“I’m lost.”

If it was not that old accuser, who was actually gave them the last night letter?

-to be continued-

-Does my writing style change? Well, who cares? XD More and more question appears! Thanks for still reading on!