The mistery of dreams
Mar. 9th, 2012 02:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shinhirokiTITLE: The mystery of dreams
AUTHOR: Bettysh
GROUP: Arashi
PAIRING: JunToshi, SakuMiya, AibaXBecky
RATING: pg-15
GENRE: Romantic comedy
DISCLAIMERS: None belong to me unfortunately Arashi
SYNOPSIS: sometimes even who thinks is a totally ordinary person can discover that, for someone, a spotless and fearless hero is hidden inside him.
TRANSLATOR:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jinnypazza82(pasticci_fanfic)
“Satoshi … Help me, I pray you …”
“Who are you? Please, tell me! What must I do?”
“I’ll tell you what you’re gonna do! You’ll end on sweeping shitters!”
Satoshi flings his eyes open just to find his boss’ face within an ace of his own.
“Sakurai-san gomen nasai! I’ve just …”
“Fell asleep! For a change! Ohno-kun … you know why you’re still working here, isn’t it?” he asks him, sighing.
“Because I’m good at my job?”tries saying the boy, receiving a bad look in response.
“Cause your mother prayed me to employ you!” says, exasperated, and all the others employees hardly hold their laughing “Why are you laughing? You’re not better than him! Go back working or by the end of today you all will be down-and-out! You louts …” yells the man, marching in his own office, and the employees go mournfully back to their desks.
“One of these days he’s really going to fire me …” sighs Satoshi, downhearted.
“No. One of these days I’ll step on Superboss Sakurai’s office, I’ll lock us inside it and I’ll make me being screwed on that desk ‘till I’ll shout the whole Icelandic alphabet backwards!”
“Thank you, Nino, for that image. I’ll dream it at nights!”
“I guess your dreams won’t be disturbed from me and Sakurai fucking, you have your little voice nagging you, no?” says the workmate, handing him a coffee candy.
“Ohno-kun!” shouts Sakurai, from his office door “Move your ass and go sending those packages!”
“Nobody moves his ass as you move it, Sakurai-san …” sighs Nino, in a low voice, to Satoshi, who stares at him disgusted.
“Are you going to hurry, or have I to do it myself!?”
“Going, going. See ya later Nino, and don’t eye Sakurai up and down.” Says Satoshi, getting up from his desk and taking the packages he has to send.
“It’s the only thing I can do for now. But I’m sure one day I’ll taste Sakurai-san and I’ll pick his bones clean!”
“Bye, Nino …” answers, going out to reach the post office.
Ohno Satoshi, 30 years old, employee in Sakurai Sho’s accountant technician’s office.
He doesn’t like his job, but his mother wanted strongly he had a profitable work so he could start a family, so he asked an old friend, Sho’s mother, to intercede on her son’s behalf and get him employed.
Satoshi, so quiet and calm, but most of all lazy, loves fishing, and he would have fished as a work if it wouldn’t have taken him far from his home and family he’s so deeply close to.
Even thou he doesn’t like his work, he can’t say there’s no advantage.
Flexible working hours, good salary and peaceful atmosphere in the office.
Sakurai always yells, obviously at him, and as always Nino, his friend and workmate, throws out his little scabrous jokes about the boss.
Nino is the only one who knows about the dreams he’s having since many months.
Every time he falls asleep, the same dream. Nothing around him, all is dark, he can’t see anything; there’s only a voice, probably a male one, which calls him asking for help.
I’ve eaten too much, or all the anger against Sakurai’s lectures comes out in dreams, he keep repeating to himself trying to explain that meaningless dreams.
And then, who would need his help?
He’s just an ordinary employee, a normal lazy boy, easygoing, with not too much expectations on future.
“Number 45”
“Excuse me, is that your number?” a lady asks to Satoshi
“What? Oh yes, that’s mine!” and he reaches the counter “Hi, I’d got to send …”
“I’m sorry, it’s an emergency!” sys a boy, interrupting him and giving some envelopes to the operator.
“Hey! That’s my time! Wait for your turn!”
“Please, I’ve got to send them immediately or … Oh-chan?” says the tall boy, and Satoshi looks at him surprised. Only one person, except for Nino, calls him this way.
“Masa?”
“Oh-chan! Been so long!” says the boy, hugging him.
“Excuse me, other people are waiting.” The operator points out.
Satoshi lets the friend send his envelopes and then he manage to send the packages for his boss.
2What a happy coincidence Oh-chan! Have you got the time for a coffee?” Masaki asks him while they’re going out from post office.
“I’d have to go back to the office, but my boss knows it always take me a lot, so let’s go!”
The both of them reach a near café and start remembering the good times.
They were friends from childhood, but Satoshi, being a little older graduated first.
Masaki is a sunny and happy person. They didn’t meet for a few years, but their relationship remained good.
“What are you doing lately, Masa?” asks Satoshi, putting a sachet of sugar in his coffee.
“Nothing at all! I’m a kept man!” exclaims cheerfully.
“Do you still live with your parents?”
“No, I live with my girlfriend, who’s rich, and I have no work!”
Oddly the thing doesn’t amaze him that much. Masaki has always had success among women for his being cheerful and his puppy look.
“Fiancé?”
“Yep! Her name’s Becky! Ah! This is for you! I was about to send it, but as we’ve met I give it to you in person!” says, handing to him an ivory colored envelope. Satoshi opens it, and gets astonished
“An invitation? Marriage … are you getting married? Masa! That’s cool! Congratulations!!”
“Thank you so much, Oh-chan! You know, Becky and me are so in love! I’m so excited and she … is expecting a pup!”
“A pup?”
“Yes … so, well … she got pregnant …” says the boy, blushing.
Satoshi laughs. Only Masaki can say he got his girlfriend pregnant and say the two of them are expecting a pup.
“You haven’t changed at all, Masa!”
“Are you coming to my wedding Oh-chan, isn’t it?”
“I just have to ask my boss, but I’m sure he’ll let me come.”
“But you have to come, otherwise I can’t get married! You’re my best man Oh-chan!” he sobs.
“And when did you plan you’ve told me I’m your best man? The wedding day?”
“I wanted to surprise you! Ah, Becky wants our best men to be dressed the same but in different colors, so the day after tomorrow you’ve got to go to the wedding dresses’ shop. There will be her and her best man, and you will be measured up.” He says, empting the fifth sachet of sugar in his coffee and eating it with the spoon.
“We meet after all this time and you suddenly tell me that I’ll be your best man! You’re crazy as usual!” Satoshi states.
“Yep! And you, Oh-chan? How are you doing?”
“I’m an employee. Funny, huh? Me who swore to never become a gray and dull employee, I’ve become ….”
“And have you got a girlfriend?”
“No …”
“A boyfriend?”
“Masa! No. Not boys nor girls! By myself …” he answers sadly.
“Come on Oh-chan, don’t get you down. I’m sure you too will find the person who’ll make you happy! You know, love works miracles!”
“Masa you’re obviously flying high cause of the marriage and the imminent fatherhood, but I’m too lazy even for love …”
“Sometimes though you aren’t looking for it, love finds you, you know it, don’t you?”
The two go on their chatting, remembering other happenings of their youth, when Satoshi notices it got really late, and runs to the office, saying goodbye to Masaki who reminds him to go to the dress fitting.
“Sakurai-san, gomen nasai!” he says when he gets running to the office, finding only the boss “Where are the others?”
“Where do you think they are? At home, that’s obvious! It’s half past six!”
“Oh … and you? Why are you still here?”
“I’d have to close the office, but some stupid wasn’t here and I had to wait for him until now …”
“I’m so terribly sorry! I’ve met a dear friend I haven’t seen for long and we started talking about his forthcoming wedding and I lost all sense of time …”
“My best friend too is getting married, in addition, with a first-class idiot! Some people lose completely their mind when they fall in love, and you really seem one of them.” Declares Sakurai, grabbing his briefcase.
“The last thing I can think in my life is love …” claims Satoshi, depressed.
“Don’t be a drag with me, I’m not your heart consultant. Now, go home, and please be efficient tomorrow! Have a nice evening!”
Satoshi takes up his things and sets off for home.
He doesn’t live far from the office, luckily, as he has no driving license and he really prefers having a good walk.
He lives alone since, a few years ago, he moved for work, and hi dinners, except rarely when his mother comes getting him delicious homemade foods which lead him back with nostalgia to his childhood, consist in precooked meals.
After he ate something, he decides to go on a bit with work, and flipping out some paperwork he finds Masaki’s invitation.
He sits at his desk and reads it again, with attention. The wedding will take place in a beautiful location right outside Tokyo, a place only who’s rich enough to afford it can rent for wedding.
A fairy tale wedding; his mind runs to European fairy tales, with enchanted castles, brave princes and princesses longing to be saved … inspired he takes his reliable scrapbook and he starts drawing a castle surrounded by a wonderful garden with a fountain spurting water in the centre.
When Satoshi draws he can lose himself for hours in his own world, without noticing anything outside it. Drawing, such as fishing, totally relaxes him.
He ends his drawing, satisfied an relaxed. The things he just drew seem so concrete, nearly as they exist in reality and he’s already seen them somewhere. Right after he has admired his work for a bit, he decides to have a bath.
The mellow heat of the water lead Satoshi to sleep In the tub.
“Satoshi … save me …”
“Who are you? What do you want from me? Let me see you!” Satoshi shouts, surrounded by the darkness as usual, when suddenly a powerful light appears. He goes in the light direction and the more it’s near the more it becomes strong and blinding, and Satoshi closes his eyes.
When he opens them again, the scenery has changed. Darkness has disappeared; he sees a beautiful garden, with white columns and a huge fountain in the center, just like the one he drew. The moon mirrors herself in the water of the fountain and a gentle breeze brings along a sweet rose perfume which spreads all around; a beautiful flying unicorn is drinking from the fountain.
Satoshi is astounded, he has never seen nothing similar. He decides to get closer without making noise, the winged horse keeps drinking without noticing Satoshi, who sees, in the reflection from the water, a man’s face.
Finally, the animal seems to notice the boy’s presence and he suddenly turns, ready to run away.
“No, wait! I don’t want to hurt you!” Satoshi says, just to keep him and lose himself in those dark eyes.
“Satoshi?”
“how do you know my name? Is that you asking for my help?”Satoshi asks, ravished from the rare beauty of the animal, reaching out his hand to touch the muzzle, but he promptly draws away.
“Don’t be afraid of me …”
“I didn’t think you were like this …” says the horse, staring at him.
“Like this how? What’s wrong with me?”
“I don’t know how to explain it …”
“Maybe so pathetic and ordinary? Don’t worry, I won’t get hurt if you say you got the wrong Satoshi and now you find that loser good at nothing before your eyes.” Says Satoshi, lowering his sight.
“First of all, I never get wrong” says the unicorn, looking at him so intensely Satoshi feels he’s blazing up for embarrassment “Second, it wasn’t my intention to say you’re pathetic, but … how can I define you? Let’s say … handsome!”
“Handsome? Me!?” says Satoshi, lifting his eyes back in disbelief, bursting into laugh. “You’re a winged unicorn and you come telling me I’m handsome? You, a creature of rare beauty!”
But the unicorn doesn’t answer.
“Why did you ask for my help?”
“Because you’re the only person who can help me get out from this terrifying place.”
Satoshi looks around. The place is splendid, just as he drew it, and there’s nothing terrifying in it, on the opposite, erring for presumption, it’s an enchanting place, worthy of the work of an architect!
“It doesn’t look so bad …”
The unicorn looks at him like he’s insane “But I want to escape!”
“And why don’t you?”
“Cause I can’t do it myself obviously! And then, this place is protected by a magic barrier which prevent me to run away! Satoshi, you’re the only one who can save me!”
“Me? What can I do? I’m not a hero! I’m just an employee, except for drawing I have no particular capacities or abilities! I’m useless!”
The horse looks at him with sad eyes
“I understand … you don’t want to help me. I’ve interfered with your dreams pointlessly. You aren’t a hero! You’re just a scared and insecure kid!” he shouted, mad.
“Hey! I’m 30! I’m not a kid, even though I’m short!”
“Being old doesn’t necessarily put you wise! Good bye Satoshi!” with these last words the unicorn flies away, causing a blast of wind so strong Satoshi has to cover his eyes.
Feeling cold, he opens his eyes and he finds out still being naked in the tub, immersed in the now ice-cold water.
“It’s just a dream …” he repeats to himself while stepping out the tub to get dry and go to bed.
Will I dream him again, he asks to himself, before falling asleep once again, but for the first time in months he sleeps without any dream.
Waking up earlier than usual, he decides to go to work.
Maybe I won’t have that weird dreams again.
“Oh-chan, what are you doing already here?” asks Nino, seeing him appear.
“Me? And you? I thought I’d have found only Sakurai san!”
“I open the office. I’ve got a copy of the key. That’s you the only one who hasn’t it, cause you’re always late. Why this morning you came so early?”he asks, surprised “Won’t you be here to try it on with my Sho?” asks, suspicious.
“Your Sho? Have we come to this? Aren’t you falling in love, are you? Anyway, I’m not interested, just keep him for you! I just woke up earlier.”
“Your dream once again?”
“No … the voice has disappeared …” answers, strangely frustrated while talking
“That’s what you wanted, isn’t it? That it would disappear.”
“That’s so … just you know … it’s weird now … that’s all.”
“Good morning Ninomi … Ohno-kun? What are you doing already here? Do you want to force rain? “ asks Sakurai, reaching the office.
“Good morning. I’ve just woken up early and decided to come to work, that’s all.”
“Huh? Good. Ninomiya-kun, I’d like …” he starts saying, but his phone rings and, saying sorry, he goes answering,
“I’d like too, so much … but you don’t understand …” sighs Nino.
“You’d like what?” Satoshi provokes him, knowing his coworker is just dying to express his desire on their boss
“Do Sakurai Sho!”
“I beg your pardon?” asks the man himself, ending the call and coming back to them
“Do … something to make Sakurai-san give me more work” answers Nino, embarrassed, fearing the boss heard him.
“You’d have to take inspiration from him, Ohno-kun. Ninomiya-kun really is a hard worker! That’s fine, I’ll find out something for you to do …” he says, heading for his own office.
“Everything you want …” answers Nino, craftily, but Sho is already in his office.
“The day he’ll understand your sexual hints, he’ll fire you. Can’t you just hold back, sometimes?”
“I’d like him not to hold back, if you get what I mean …”
“Got it ...”
In the meanwhile, the other coworkers have arrived, so the two head to their desks.
But Satoshi can’t think of anything than the unicorn of his dream, who seemed so real.
He connects his desk’s PC and searchers for unicorns.
“Unicorns?” asks Nino, stepping from behind him.
“Oh, God, Nino! Do you want me dead for scare!? Well, they’re fascinating, don’t you think?”
“I like just one unicorn, or well, the horn of just one person, if you get …”
“Got it! I’m so idiot, asking you something about birds, fishes or whatever reminds you of Sakurai’s penis!”mutters while Nino gestures him to shut up, but vainly “Maybe Sakurai even has a small one!” he ends, and Nino runs a hand on his own face.
“So, I would have a small one …” he hears, and turning he sees, in horror, Sho himself staring madly at him, with crossed arms.
“Sakurai-san … I … I …”
“In my office, Ohno-kun! Now!” says, going before him.
“He never says it to me with this master’s authoritarian voice.” Says Nino, disappointed, receiving a black stare from Satoshi, who’s entering Sho’s office, closing the door.
“Ohno-kun …”
“Sakurai-san, I pray you, I didn’t want to show disrespect toward you. Don’t fire me, please!” prays Satoshi, interrupting him.
“Ohno-kun …” repeats Sho, shaking his head “I think it’s better you take some holydays.”
“Holydays?”
“Yes. You relax, you do what you want, your mind off and you come back to work calmly, because now you’re quite worrying me. You look tired, you fall asleep while working … I understand that maybe this isn’t the work of your dreams, and it doesn’t suit your personality, but this is the only job you have, and in these days is better you hold on it. I see you as a nice person and I have no intention of firing you, you swallow all my blusters, so rest an come back psyched up, ok?”
“Ok. Thank you Sakurai-san. I’ll rest and come back recharged to 100%!” states Satoshi.
“Don’t exaggerate, now! You’re extremely lazy! Go, you’re starting your holydays now. I don’t want to see your face until next week. Ah, send Ninomiya-kun here, I’ll give him some of your work.”
“He’ll be happy to come …”
“What?”
“Nothing … I’m becoming like him. Thank you again Sakurai-san.”
Satoshi gets out , takes up his things and after reassuring Nino saying he’s not fired, he just takes some holydays and that Sakurai waits for him In his office, and he leaves.
Is just 10 in the morning and Satoshi is walking around in the city.
The job takes nearly his whole day, and now he can’t even go fishing, as it’s too late to set off. He’ll go tomorrow, he says to himself, but he remembers he has promised to Masaki he would have gone to the dress fitting to get measured for the best man dress.
Why have the best men to be dressed th same, then … rich people are incomprehensible.
Resigned to the idea of being trapped In his friend wedding, he takes a walk in the near park, and he sits on a bench. How peaceful seem the people he meets! Old couples walking arm in arm remembering some nostalgic happening of their youth. Calm people jogging or walking their dog.
Children playing carelessly, unmindful of future and what lies ahead.
From where he’s seated, he can see the fountain in the centre of the park, now turned off as it’s already autumn, and seeing it his mind goes back to the winged unicorn of his dream.
Who knows why he was asking him for help …
Don’t worry so much, it’s just a dream.
He repeats to himself, when an iced breeze ruffles his hair and in the air he smells the unmistakable rose perfume.
The unicorn is next to the fountain and looks at him.
“Unicorn!” he calls him, and the unicorn starts running on his direction, making Satoshi fear he’ll be ran down from that crazy run.
He closes his eyes, waiting for the impact, but instead of being swept away, he feels as he’s been passed through, and inside him a deep sadness fills his soul.
When he opens his eyes, the unicorn isn’t there anymore.
“Oh shit! Also hallucinations, now! I’m going insane! Now I’ll believe I’m a Smurf and I’m going smurfing in the wood with other smurfs, or I’ll get crazy looking for my Fairly Oddparents, or I’ll fly around with a mini skirt on believing I’m a Winx!” he says, exasperated “Got to go back home!”
He starts running like hell and he doesn’t stop until he isn’t in his apartment. He dashes in the kitchen and he prepares a strong coffee, he can’t risk to fall asleep.
Caffeine does its effect and he applies to all those activities he never want to do, that means cleaning, and he even goes to the supermarket so he can prepare himself a real dinner.
When everything is neat and trim and tummy is full, he seats on the couch to watch TV, but in the moment he touches the soft cloth he falls asleep.
“Wait, Unicorn! Wait! Don’t run away from me!” shouts Satoshi to the horse, who runs from him, in the garden of the castle. “I pray you, wait!” he says, being out of breath, sitting on the edge of the fountain.
“Leave me alone, Satoshi.”
“You asked for my help! Why now you don’t want it anymore?”
“Because …” says the horse, with sad eyes. Satoshi, even though hesitant, caresses his muzzle, and the animal doesn’t draw back.
“What’s your name?” Satoshi asks him.
“Me? My name? You really want to know what my name is?”
“Of course! You know mine, but I don’t know yours. You haunted me for nights and nights, I have the right to know the name of who disturbed my sleep, isn’t it?” he answers, with a smile.
“My name is Jun …”
“Jun … such a beautiful name. So, Jun, why did you ask for my help?”
“I guess explanations have to wait. Bye bye Satoshi …”
“What? Eh?”
Satoshi wakes up on his home couch. It’s morning already and he rubs his face to completely wake up, still feeling on his fingers the roses’ perfume.
Now he really can worry, it isn’t a simple dream anymore, everything’s too real!
His cell phone rings, and he sees a message from Masaki informing him of the place and hour for the fitting.
“But I’s nearly on the other side of the city! Couldn’t he write to me earlier?!”
He quickly dresses up and runs out home, to catch the tube. Then he has to use all his energy to run to the place they’re waiting for him.
“Welcome!” one of the wedding dresses shop salesgirls receives him.
“Hi, I’m here to get measured for the best men’s dresses … the bride must be already here …”
“Oh, yes! We were waiting for you. So you are the groom’s best man. The bride-to-be and her best man are this way. Please, follow me.” She says, setting off to one of the hall rooms. “Becky-san! Here’s your guest!”
“Here I am! Oh, you’re way cuter than Macchi described you!” says a girl in a light blue wedding dress
“Nice to meet you! I’m Becky, Macchi’s fiancée!”
“Macchi? You mean Masa? Anyway, nice to meet you, I’m Ohno Satoshi . Congratulations for your marriage and thank you for the invite and for the great honour to be one of the best men.” Answers Satoshi, politely.
“Haw formal you are! Now we are friends! Shocchi! Come on! Macchi’s best man has arrived, hurry! Excuse him, he’s a nice person, but so square …”
“Don’t introduce me as square to your boyfriend’s friends, please!” says the boy, arriving, and Satoshi remains amazed seeing him.
“Sa … Sakurai-san?”
“Ohno-kun?! I told you I didn’t want to see your face until next week!”
“Shocchi, you already know Oh-chan?” asks the girl, confused.
“I … well …”
“So, your best friend who’s gonna marry a first-class idiot is Becky-san?” says Satoshi, making Sho’s face change lots of colours in shame.
“Shocchi, stop going around telling bad things about my Macchi.” The girl scolds him
“Well, a man who’s kept by his girlfriend is just a worm!”
“So, how did you meet, Shocchi and you?” asks Becky, ignoring her friend’s words.
“Well, Shocchi …” starts Satoshi, making fun of Sho, who stares at him like he wants to burn him down “He’s my boss, I work for him.”
“Still not for long.” Hisses Sho
“You work for Shocchi? So, you’re … is it him?” asks the girl, overexcited, to her friend “Is it him your personal torment?”
“Torment?”
“Becky, that dress doesn’t suit you. Why don’t you try on another one, maybe some sizes larger? The bump shows too much! Hurry up!” says Sho, pushing her in the nearest fitting room.
“Is it him or not?” insists the girl, but Sho isn’t listening anymore, he has seized Satoshi and dragged him in a near little room.
“What does it mean I’m your personal torment, Shocchi … ehm Sakurai-san?” asks Satoshi, when they’re alone.
“Call me Shocchi again and I fire you, Ohno-kun!” yells Sho, walking back and forth as he’s crazy.
“Sakurai-san?”
“Now you know it, and Becky won’t stop asking until she’ll know the truth …” he says, staring directly in his eyes
“I … I fell in love!” he burst out, blushing
“For me?” asks Satoshi puzzled.
“Obviously not! You idiot!”
“For Becky-san?”
“No! What … what the hell have you got in that head of yours!? I fell for … for … oh I tell you, ok! For Ninomiya-kun! Says, sitting heavily on the couch, his face completely red.
Satoshi stares at him, surprised. He had never imagined that their serious and short-tempered boss could confess to him that he fell for Nino, his friend who dreams so much he can touch and kiss Sho.
“You’ll think I’m a swine …” sighs Sho.
“No, why would I have to?” he asks; he’s used to the indecent sentences Nino says always, he doesn’t get shocked for so little “It’s beautiful being in love … I guess …”
“Oh, yes, how couldn’t it be … if you fall for someone who could love you back! Ninomiya-kun could never get interest on me, there’s no way!”
Satoshi would like to tell him that Nino is more than interested, but he doesn’t know if Nino, beyond feeling an overwhelming physical urge does love their boss.
Suddenly, in the room Satoshi smells the roses’ perfume and, like he’s on a trance, he looks around, searching for the unicorn, while Sho says something he isn’t listening.
Where are you? He asks, looking for him everywhere, and he sees something in one of the mirrors. But it isn’t the unicorn, indeed it’s the image of a dark haired young man.
“Ohno-kun, are you listening to me? I’m asking for an opinion!” Sho recalls him, and Satoshi turn to look at him.
“What?” he asks, then turns again on the mirror direction. But the boy isn’t there anymore.
“I was asking you if in your opinion I have any chance with Ninomiya-kun!” repeats Sho, angry
“Ah … yes …”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh, how can I know! I have my own problems! It doesn’t interest me in anyway if you love Nino and you don’t have the guts to tell him!?” he yells at Sho
Sho stares at him, unbelieving that someone shouted at him this way.
“I’m sorry, Sakurai-san, but … what’s the meaning on running away? You say a person like Nino could never be interested on someone like you, but … how can you know it? Has Nino told you? Have you ever heard Nino tell what you’re afraid of or is your proud blocking you? In my opinion, you’d have to tell Nino. You’ll be surprised from what he’ll answer to you …”
“Ohno-kun …” asks Sho “Are you in love?”
“Me?”
“You speak like a person vexed from an impossible love.”
“I … no, I’m not in love.”
A salesgirl arrives and measures up the two men, and as she leave, Satoshi says quickly goodbye to Sho and Becky, saying to her to send him the dress, any colour it will be.
He wants to go back home immediately, he wants to go to bed and dream the splendid animal.
Sho asked to him if he’s in love, and he obviously isn’t. He doesn’t know none who makes his heart beat strong or who interest him in a particular way.
He just want to know how to help Jun, the unicorn of his dreams.
He arrives at home and throws himself in the bed, hoping to fall asleep at once. He’s terribly lazy and he always feels sleepy, that wouldn’t be difficult falling asleep.
Unfortunately, his laziness doesn’t help him, and he spends the whole afternoon turning in the bed with no chance to sleep.
“That’s really nice! Me who can’t sleep! The Armageddon will happen soon!” burst out, throwing pillows all around the room. “Jun! Help me! I want to meet you! I want to see you!” he shouts desperately, as he feels some tears rolling down his cheeks.
He wanted so badly that the voice disturbing all his dreams wound disappear, and now he couldn’t wait to meet Jun again and speak with him.
He spends the afternoon thinking of why does he want so much to see that creature again, which probably came entirely from his imagination, until then, once it already is dark, someone rings to his door.
Satoshi goes opening, enthusiastic, as a winged unicorn could go and ring to enter in a house.
“Oh … that’s you Nino …” says, a little bit frustrated, and the sharp friend notices it.
“I’m as happy as you to meet, Oh-chan, no need you smother me with your affection!” he says sarcastic.
“Why those red eyes? Did you cry?” asks Nino, entering the apartment.
“No way! But, why are you here?” Asks Satoshi, gesturing him to take a seat on the couch.
“Sakurai-san told me to stay at the office after the others had left and …” he stops.
Satoshi fears he made a trouble talking so directly to their boss and that the man would rather had fired Kazunari than declare to him.
“And?”
“And … I did it …”
“What?”
“How can you ask what Oh-chan! Have I to make you see a video about sex?! I had sex with Sakurai!” says, blushing.
“I don’t understand, that’s you wanted until yesterday morning! Do him in his office! What’s wrong now? He really has a small one?” asks Satoshi, don’t getting what the problem is.
“No! He doesn’t have a small one! I’m not complaining for the best ex of my life but … well … Sakurai told me he loves me after we had sex. He said sorry cause he just wanted to declare, not jump on me on a certain Kitagawa-san’s paperwork … do you understand?”
“I understand we’ll have to print again Kitagawa-san’s paperwork cause it’s dirty”
“I didn’t know what to answer to him! I was astonished! I didn’t expect him to say he loves me! I thought having sex with him would have been enough … but …”
“You love him!” says Satoshi, finally getting what Nino means “you masked your love with your perverted behaviour, but instead you love him! So, why didn’t you tell him before?”
“I don’t know! I was scared and I ran away! I didn’t think he would have returned my feelings! I didn’t think that a such important man could fall for me …”mumbles Nino embarrassed.
“You’re perfect for each other …” sighs Satoshi, under the questioning look of his friend. “Nothing. I’m happy for you Nino. Now you only have to find the courage to give him your answer and everything will go on place …”
“And when will you find the courage, Oh-chan?” asks Nino, seriously.
“Me?”
“There’s something you’re hiding from me, and it could be fine, but you’re hiding it from yourself and this definitely isn’t fine. Oh-chan, I want to talk with Sakurai, indeed with Sho. I want to tell him I love him, really a lot, and that’s all thank to you. I don’t know what troubles you, but if you want to tell me I’m here. And even though you don’t want, try to find the courage and admit what you feel.”
“Nino I … think I’m going crazy! I don’t know what to do!”
“The key to understand it is in your heart … no one else, except of you, can do it … fine, I go. I’ll write a mail to Sho and tell him to meet downtown and talk.” Says Nino, getting up from the couch.
“A public place? Isn’t it better if you go to his house? Knowing you, you’ll be on him before you can talk to him properly …”
“Maybe I’ll do so! And you, bring your feelings to light! Bye!”
Remaining alone, Satoshi goes over Nino’s words, but anyway he finds no solution; finally sleep prevail him and he dopes off.
“Jun!” says, seeing him near the fountain and running to reach him, hugging his muzzle.
The familiar roses’ perfume makes him feel good and he feels as Jun is hugging him back, but it’s impossible as Jun is a horse “I wanted so badly to see you, you know?”
“Me too, Satoshi.”
“I tried to ask your help to make me asleep to meet you, but you didn’t hear me.”
“I heard you clearly, but there’s nothing I can do from here …” answers sadly Jun
“Tell me what can I do to let you out from here ”
“I don’t know … I thought you would know …”
Satoshi is ruffled. What can he ever do for Jun?
“Why are you trapped here?” asks him
“I …”
“Jun, please! I need to know and I don’t have much time. I could wake up in every moment for hunger! I haven’t touched any food today, and I could wake up to empty the fridge!” says worried, and Jun smiles lightly
“I’ve been imprisoned here. Many centuries ago a witch fell in love for me and did anything to conquer me, but I didn’t love her. In hunger for my continuous refusals she cursed me and she locked me in this place.”
“A woman who falls in love for an animal …”
“I … am a human.” Sighs the horse and Satoshi opens his eyes wide in disbelief. “This is my real appearance …” goes on, mirroring himself on the water surface, and Satoshi sees the dark haired boy he saw that morning in the mirror of the shop.
Jun draws back, for not seeing himself.
“I understand why she fell for you …” murmurs Satoshi, turning to face the unicorn and look in his eyes “You’re so beautiful Jun …”
“I’m so tired to hear that I’m beautiful” growls Jun in sorrow.
“That’s why you’re so sad? You think you’re worth only for your appearance, to others? I felt your sadness the other day, while you ran through me … Jun, I want to help you and take you away from here …”
“And how? You said you have no idea …”
“Only me can help you, I’m the only one who can find the key …” suddenly a screwy idea makes its way in his thoughts “Jun, wait a moment! This is a castle and now we’re in the garden, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“And where can you go?”
“Actually before there was only the wood, completely dark … then I found myself in front of the fountain and since then I can walk in the garden, that before wasn’t here. But I don’t get what’s your point …”
“The witch imprisoned you in a dark place where none could see or hear you and in my dreams I couldn’t see you, but I could hear your voice. But two days ago I imagined this castle and the garden with the fountain, and now you’re here! Don’t you understand, Jun? I can let you out!” it doesn’t seem Jun understands “What I draw takes shape in my dreams! I am the key to let you out from here! I can do it!”
“And how?”
“I’ll draw a key! The garden will end somewhere, can’t be infinite! There will be a wall and a key closed gate. If, awaken, I draw the key, the gate will open and you could be free!” says, with so much enthusiasm even Jun starts hoping.
“For real, Satoshi? Will I be free?”
“I promise it to you, Jun!”
“But I’m a unicorn …”
“Well, I’ll draw you as a man … I’ll draw you becoming a normal boy in the moment you pass the gate. Jun, you’ll be free!”
“Oh God, Satoshi, I’m so happy!”
“Will you stay with me, Jun?”asks Satoshi excited, not controlling the flow of his thoughts, noticing only after that he said it “I … sorry … its … I got used to talk to you … and I grew fond of you, that’s it …”
“See you Satoshi …” answers Jun
“Eh? Wait Jun!”
“You’re waking up … see you” and in the moment Jun says so, Satoshi suddenly wakes up. In his hands he’s holding one of Jun’s wing feathers.
“It isn’t a dream. You’re real Jun! God, you’re real!”
Happy he found the way to save Jun, he decides to start immediately drawing the gate and the key after breakfast, but, as the good artist he is, he decides to work calmly in order to don’t forget any detail.
He also decides to go in the park near the office to get better inspiration.
When he gets there, he sees the bench is occupied, and he’s about to leave when he recognizes the two hugging each other “Nino? Sakurai-san?”
The both of them flinch for being spotted
“Ohno-kun! Damn it! That’s you!” mumbles Sho, his face completely red.
“So you brought it to light?” asks, though the answer is clear.
“Oh-chan … I knew from Sho what you told him yesterday. Why didn’t you tell me that was due to you that Sho decided to declare to me?” says Nino
“I didn’t … sincerely didn’t think of it at all …”
“So typical of Ohno-kun … he does but he doesn’t think.” Chimes in Sho “Why are you here? I gave you holydays, if I remember it well”
“I’m about to find the key of my feelings …”
“Eh?”
“Come on, Sho-kun, let’s leave Oh-chan alone. I think he needs it.” Says Nino, taking Sho’s hand and making as he’s leaving; but he turns back and smiles to his friend “Ganbatte Oh-chan! You can do it!” he says, and Sho to smiles, encouraging, pulling Nino in a hug.
I can do it, says Satoshi to himself, starting to draw the gate at the edge of the garden, closed from a huge heart shaped padlock. Then he starts drawing Jun, trying to portray him in all his beauty, about to pass through the gate. He draws the key and he places it so that he can easily reach I and set Jun free.
Jun will be free! And he will help him! If he has been trapped for many centuries, he won’t have another place to live in. Yes, he will help him and he’ll welcome him in his house! He’s sure! He can’t live without Jun, by now he’s part of his life.
Finally, Satoshi’s wait is paid off and, just after dinner, he sits on the couch waiting to meet Jun, as he longed for.
Sleep doesn’t make him wait long.
“Satoshi!” Jun calls him, running in his direction, still in the appearance of an unicorn. “I couldn’t go out, even though the gate has appeared! Where’s the key?” he asks, worried.
“It’s right here” and he points at his chest “It’s in my heart, Jun.”
Jun seems worried, and Satoshi understand it’s no time for sentimentalism; Jun cannot wait anymore. He puts his right hand on his chest, at heart height, and the key appears; it opens the padlock of the gate, and from outside an icing wind comes.
“Are you ready Jun?” asks, turning, and Jun is back to his human appearance. Satoshi gets lost gazing at him
“Satoshi … thanks … thank you so much”
“Now we can stay together Jun” says Satoshi, taking his hand, but Jun draws back in the direction of the outside the garden
“I’m sorry Satoshi. I’m infinitely grateful to you cause you saved me, but I can’t stay with you …”
“Why?” asks Satoshi, but Jun passes through the gate and disappears.
Satoshi wakes up, with tears down his cheeks.
Jun cannot have abandoned him this way, after he asked to stay with him.
He can’t, because Satoshi thinks he feels something for him.
Scared from the idea he lost Jun, Satoshi hopes to find him in his dreams, but days go by and Satoshi always dreams he’s alone in the garden, searching for Jun.
At work he isn’t more careful than before, and, if possible, he’s if possible more silent.
Nino doesn’t know how to help his friend, and he and Sho are really worried.
“Ohno-kun, you’re fired!” tries Sho, the morning before Masaki’s and Becky’s wedding.
“Uhm … yes, I’ll bring you immediately your coffee.”
“You see? He doesn’t react! Sho, what can we do?!” asks Nino “He’s not himself!”
“I don’t know what can we do Kazu, I just hope tomorrow morning he’ll be more lively …”
“In your opinion, will he be?” asks Kazunari, sceptical, and Sho tries to smile him, reassuring, before kissing him on the lips.
Satoshi can’t resign himself by now. A month has gone since he helped Jun, and the boy has never appeared in his dreams or in reality.
He’s got to set his mind off of it. Jun doesn’t want to stay with him and has disappeared, that’s all.
How could he just think that Jun would really have accepted to stay with a loser like he is?!
He fooled himself just because the boy asked for his help.
The dress had arrived and, if normally he would have found it absurd, now he doesn’t care at all. He could also seem a clown at Masaki’s wedding, doesn’t matter.
Actually, he doesn’t want at all going to the marriage itself.
He’d like so much to stay at home being depressed, but the groom’s car pulls in at his place.
“Oh-chan!” shouts Masaki, at the top of his hyper excitement.
“Masa, you deafen me … good morning.” Answers, sitting in the car, that mover off to the ceremony location.
Masaki talks all the way long, saying how anxious and nervous he is for the wedding, scared to burst out crying or, worse, to say something stupid, but Satoshi doesn’t listen to him, he stares out of the car’s window, thinking only of how many hours will he have to spend smiling to all the other wedding guests.
As he imagined, the castle is wonderful, decorated for the party.
The ceremony will be lead in one of the halls, and everything is set.
Masaki’s parents greet Satoshi, asking him if he came with someone. Masaki looks more and more impatient and has already tortured his bow tie a thousand times.
“Get calm, Masa …” Satoshi tries to reassure him, fixing his jam, when Sho reaches them at the side of the altar, dressed exactly like Satoshi, but in red instead of blue.
“Masaki … so here we are.”
“Yes. I’m so afraid, Sho-chan!” Masaki answers to him, and Satoshi smiles thinking the both Masaki and Becky call the impassive Sakurai with this kind of nicknames.
He turns and sees Nino sitting next to, he thinks, Sho’s parents; he thinks so because the man looks really like Sho, and Nino is displaying his best smiles.
The hall is filled up and, after a little wait, as expected, the bride makes her triumphant entrance, walked by her father.
Masaki gives up and starts crying softly, and Satoshi hands him his handkerchief , used by the boy to wet his tears and blow his nose and then try to give it back to Satoshi, who gestures he can keep it.
The ceremony is short, but intense.
Satoshi can see the love in Masaki’s and Becky’s eyes, the tender looks Sho and Nino exchange now and then, and the joy of those present for this happy union.
The priest declares the two married and Masaki, soundly greeted by the people in the hall, everyone standing, kisses Becky, now his wife.
Satoshi cheers too, when the well-known roses’ perfume attracts him, and he suddenly turns in the hall’s door direction, seeing Jun cheering, and then turning his eyes away when their looks meet.
Jun leaves the hall, and Satoshi, without thinking, runs out to follow him.
“Jun! Wait!” he yells at him, running after him downstairs “I pray you! At least explain me why!”
Jun stops on the landing and Satoshi reaches him.
“You run fast, even having those short legs …” says Jun, without turning.
“Jun … please … I … did I do something wrong?” asks, and Jun turns suddenly in his direction
“Something wrong? No”
“So, why did you disappear?”
“I … didn’t … I already troubled you so much. You saved me and I don’t know the proper way to thank you. You wanted to help me more, even after you set me free and I couldn’t abuse your kindness any longer …” explains Jun.
“Idiot!” Shouts Satoshi, angry, clenching his fists at his sides “I helped you cause I wanted it! At the beginning I didn’t know what to do, me, so useless, so common, but you believed in me and even if it seems impossible I was able to save you. Do you want to thank me? So face up to your responsibilities!” says grasping on his arm and staring intensely in those dark eyes.
“Responsibilities?”
“You made me love you and then you disappeared!” says Satoshi, blushing, leaving Jun unable to speak. “Well … yep … I love you … I guess. No, it’s a lie, I don’t guess it, I love you and stop, I know! I understood it in this month while not knowing where were you or if were you fine. I feared I imagined everything, but I’m way too lazy to imagine even a person. I’m crazy, isn’t it? You won’t get any interest on what I’m saying. I’m pathetic.” Whines Satoshi, but Jun holds him and Satoshi feels the same warmth I felt in that dream.
“I was afraid … afraid of you.”
“Of me?”
“Yes. One thing was help me, another one was … love me back …” whispers in his hear.
“You …” asks Satoshi, puzzled, moving him a little bit away just to look in his eyes, and Jun nods.
“I’ve been confined for many years in the darkness and then … I ended up in your dreams. It still was all dark, but I felt a weird warmth. I felt your thoughts, tour feelings, and I asked for your help. You could understand me and you would have helped me. Then I saw you before my eyes. I liked you from the first moment …”
“Oh Jun …”
“So you … love me too?” asks Jun hesitant.
“Yes Jun, I do love you.”
“Hey! The groom’s best man wouldn’t disappear like this to … go off with one of the guests!” says Nino, arriving with Sho.
“I … no, well … Jun isn’t …”
“So, that’s him your boyfriend, Sho-kun?” asks Jun, and the man blushes, but Nino takes his hand.
“Oh, here you are! Junji I’ve got to throw the bouquet, so place yourself somewhere I can see you!” says the bride, arriving with Masaki.
“What a bundle of fun …”
“No, wait a moment!” says Satoshi, confused “You know each other? I mean, you know Jun?”
“Well, you know, he’s my brother” says Becky, and Satoshi looks at her in confusion.
“Oh-chan, I didn’t know you were trying it on a such handsome boy!” states Nino.
“Hey! And me?!” asks Sho miffed.
“Let’s go, the party is about to start.” Say the bride and groom, making their way towards the party hall, Nino and Sho following them.
Jun is about to follow the group when Satoshi stops him, grabbing his wrist.
“You’re Becky’s brother? But …”
“I had to find a way to gatecrash the wedding and see you again, isn’t it?”
“But … I don’t understand …”
“I wouldn’t have to be here, in this time … I’d have to be dead a lot of time ago but the curse imprisoned me forever. Thank to you I came back to living … I … so, I manipulated the things a bit …” he explains, smiling to him.
Satoshi would ask more, but maybe the less he knows the best it is.
“Scared?” Jun aska
“Yes … of login you.” He answers; Jun hugs him once more.
“I love you, Jun” Satoshi says, kissing him sweetly on his lips.
“I love you too Satoshi.” And taking each other’s hand they head to the party hall.
“Aren’t you too a witch?” asks Satoshi. Jun burst out laughing.
“Stay with me forever and you’re gonna find out.”
AUTHOR: Bettysh
GROUP: Arashi
PAIRING: JunToshi, SakuMiya, AibaXBecky
RATING: pg-15
GENRE: Romantic comedy
DISCLAIMERS: None belong to me unfortunately Arashi
SYNOPSIS: sometimes even who thinks is a totally ordinary person can discover that, for someone, a spotless and fearless hero is hidden inside him.
TRANSLATOR:
jinnypazza82(pasticci_fanfic)“Satoshi … Help me, I pray you …”
“Who are you? Please, tell me! What must I do?”
“I’ll tell you what you’re gonna do! You’ll end on sweeping shitters!”
Satoshi flings his eyes open just to find his boss’ face within an ace of his own.
“Sakurai-san gomen nasai! I’ve just …”
“Fell asleep! For a change! Ohno-kun … you know why you’re still working here, isn’t it?” he asks him, sighing.
“Because I’m good at my job?”tries saying the boy, receiving a bad look in response.
“Cause your mother prayed me to employ you!” says, exasperated, and all the others employees hardly hold their laughing “Why are you laughing? You’re not better than him! Go back working or by the end of today you all will be down-and-out! You louts …” yells the man, marching in his own office, and the employees go mournfully back to their desks.
“One of these days he’s really going to fire me …” sighs Satoshi, downhearted.
“No. One of these days I’ll step on Superboss Sakurai’s office, I’ll lock us inside it and I’ll make me being screwed on that desk ‘till I’ll shout the whole Icelandic alphabet backwards!”
“Thank you, Nino, for that image. I’ll dream it at nights!”
“I guess your dreams won’t be disturbed from me and Sakurai fucking, you have your little voice nagging you, no?” says the workmate, handing him a coffee candy.
“Ohno-kun!” shouts Sakurai, from his office door “Move your ass and go sending those packages!”
“Nobody moves his ass as you move it, Sakurai-san …” sighs Nino, in a low voice, to Satoshi, who stares at him disgusted.
“Are you going to hurry, or have I to do it myself!?”
“Going, going. See ya later Nino, and don’t eye Sakurai up and down.” Says Satoshi, getting up from his desk and taking the packages he has to send.
“It’s the only thing I can do for now. But I’m sure one day I’ll taste Sakurai-san and I’ll pick his bones clean!”
“Bye, Nino …” answers, going out to reach the post office.
Ohno Satoshi, 30 years old, employee in Sakurai Sho’s accountant technician’s office.
He doesn’t like his job, but his mother wanted strongly he had a profitable work so he could start a family, so he asked an old friend, Sho’s mother, to intercede on her son’s behalf and get him employed.
Satoshi, so quiet and calm, but most of all lazy, loves fishing, and he would have fished as a work if it wouldn’t have taken him far from his home and family he’s so deeply close to.
Even thou he doesn’t like his work, he can’t say there’s no advantage.
Flexible working hours, good salary and peaceful atmosphere in the office.
Sakurai always yells, obviously at him, and as always Nino, his friend and workmate, throws out his little scabrous jokes about the boss.
Nino is the only one who knows about the dreams he’s having since many months.
Every time he falls asleep, the same dream. Nothing around him, all is dark, he can’t see anything; there’s only a voice, probably a male one, which calls him asking for help.
I’ve eaten too much, or all the anger against Sakurai’s lectures comes out in dreams, he keep repeating to himself trying to explain that meaningless dreams.
And then, who would need his help?
He’s just an ordinary employee, a normal lazy boy, easygoing, with not too much expectations on future.
“Number 45”
“Excuse me, is that your number?” a lady asks to Satoshi
“What? Oh yes, that’s mine!” and he reaches the counter “Hi, I’d got to send …”
“I’m sorry, it’s an emergency!” sys a boy, interrupting him and giving some envelopes to the operator.
“Hey! That’s my time! Wait for your turn!”
“Please, I’ve got to send them immediately or … Oh-chan?” says the tall boy, and Satoshi looks at him surprised. Only one person, except for Nino, calls him this way.
“Masa?”
“Oh-chan! Been so long!” says the boy, hugging him.
“Excuse me, other people are waiting.” The operator points out.
Satoshi lets the friend send his envelopes and then he manage to send the packages for his boss.
2What a happy coincidence Oh-chan! Have you got the time for a coffee?” Masaki asks him while they’re going out from post office.
“I’d have to go back to the office, but my boss knows it always take me a lot, so let’s go!”
The both of them reach a near café and start remembering the good times.
They were friends from childhood, but Satoshi, being a little older graduated first.
Masaki is a sunny and happy person. They didn’t meet for a few years, but their relationship remained good.
“What are you doing lately, Masa?” asks Satoshi, putting a sachet of sugar in his coffee.
“Nothing at all! I’m a kept man!” exclaims cheerfully.
“Do you still live with your parents?”
“No, I live with my girlfriend, who’s rich, and I have no work!”
Oddly the thing doesn’t amaze him that much. Masaki has always had success among women for his being cheerful and his puppy look.
“Fiancé?”
“Yep! Her name’s Becky! Ah! This is for you! I was about to send it, but as we’ve met I give it to you in person!” says, handing to him an ivory colored envelope. Satoshi opens it, and gets astonished
“An invitation? Marriage … are you getting married? Masa! That’s cool! Congratulations!!”
“Thank you so much, Oh-chan! You know, Becky and me are so in love! I’m so excited and she … is expecting a pup!”
“A pup?”
“Yes … so, well … she got pregnant …” says the boy, blushing.
Satoshi laughs. Only Masaki can say he got his girlfriend pregnant and say the two of them are expecting a pup.
“You haven’t changed at all, Masa!”
“Are you coming to my wedding Oh-chan, isn’t it?”
“I just have to ask my boss, but I’m sure he’ll let me come.”
“But you have to come, otherwise I can’t get married! You’re my best man Oh-chan!” he sobs.
“And when did you plan you’ve told me I’m your best man? The wedding day?”
“I wanted to surprise you! Ah, Becky wants our best men to be dressed the same but in different colors, so the day after tomorrow you’ve got to go to the wedding dresses’ shop. There will be her and her best man, and you will be measured up.” He says, empting the fifth sachet of sugar in his coffee and eating it with the spoon.
“We meet after all this time and you suddenly tell me that I’ll be your best man! You’re crazy as usual!” Satoshi states.
“Yep! And you, Oh-chan? How are you doing?”
“I’m an employee. Funny, huh? Me who swore to never become a gray and dull employee, I’ve become ….”
“And have you got a girlfriend?”
“No …”
“A boyfriend?”
“Masa! No. Not boys nor girls! By myself …” he answers sadly.
“Come on Oh-chan, don’t get you down. I’m sure you too will find the person who’ll make you happy! You know, love works miracles!”
“Masa you’re obviously flying high cause of the marriage and the imminent fatherhood, but I’m too lazy even for love …”
“Sometimes though you aren’t looking for it, love finds you, you know it, don’t you?”
The two go on their chatting, remembering other happenings of their youth, when Satoshi notices it got really late, and runs to the office, saying goodbye to Masaki who reminds him to go to the dress fitting.
“Sakurai-san, gomen nasai!” he says when he gets running to the office, finding only the boss “Where are the others?”
“Where do you think they are? At home, that’s obvious! It’s half past six!”
“Oh … and you? Why are you still here?”
“I’d have to close the office, but some stupid wasn’t here and I had to wait for him until now …”
“I’m so terribly sorry! I’ve met a dear friend I haven’t seen for long and we started talking about his forthcoming wedding and I lost all sense of time …”
“My best friend too is getting married, in addition, with a first-class idiot! Some people lose completely their mind when they fall in love, and you really seem one of them.” Declares Sakurai, grabbing his briefcase.
“The last thing I can think in my life is love …” claims Satoshi, depressed.
“Don’t be a drag with me, I’m not your heart consultant. Now, go home, and please be efficient tomorrow! Have a nice evening!”
Satoshi takes up his things and sets off for home.
He doesn’t live far from the office, luckily, as he has no driving license and he really prefers having a good walk.
He lives alone since, a few years ago, he moved for work, and hi dinners, except rarely when his mother comes getting him delicious homemade foods which lead him back with nostalgia to his childhood, consist in precooked meals.
After he ate something, he decides to go on a bit with work, and flipping out some paperwork he finds Masaki’s invitation.
He sits at his desk and reads it again, with attention. The wedding will take place in a beautiful location right outside Tokyo, a place only who’s rich enough to afford it can rent for wedding.
A fairy tale wedding; his mind runs to European fairy tales, with enchanted castles, brave princes and princesses longing to be saved … inspired he takes his reliable scrapbook and he starts drawing a castle surrounded by a wonderful garden with a fountain spurting water in the centre.
When Satoshi draws he can lose himself for hours in his own world, without noticing anything outside it. Drawing, such as fishing, totally relaxes him.
He ends his drawing, satisfied an relaxed. The things he just drew seem so concrete, nearly as they exist in reality and he’s already seen them somewhere. Right after he has admired his work for a bit, he decides to have a bath.
The mellow heat of the water lead Satoshi to sleep In the tub.
“Satoshi … save me …”
“Who are you? What do you want from me? Let me see you!” Satoshi shouts, surrounded by the darkness as usual, when suddenly a powerful light appears. He goes in the light direction and the more it’s near the more it becomes strong and blinding, and Satoshi closes his eyes.
When he opens them again, the scenery has changed. Darkness has disappeared; he sees a beautiful garden, with white columns and a huge fountain in the center, just like the one he drew. The moon mirrors herself in the water of the fountain and a gentle breeze brings along a sweet rose perfume which spreads all around; a beautiful flying unicorn is drinking from the fountain.
Satoshi is astounded, he has never seen nothing similar. He decides to get closer without making noise, the winged horse keeps drinking without noticing Satoshi, who sees, in the reflection from the water, a man’s face.
Finally, the animal seems to notice the boy’s presence and he suddenly turns, ready to run away.
“No, wait! I don’t want to hurt you!” Satoshi says, just to keep him and lose himself in those dark eyes.
“Satoshi?”
“how do you know my name? Is that you asking for my help?”Satoshi asks, ravished from the rare beauty of the animal, reaching out his hand to touch the muzzle, but he promptly draws away.
“Don’t be afraid of me …”
“I didn’t think you were like this …” says the horse, staring at him.
“Like this how? What’s wrong with me?”
“I don’t know how to explain it …”
“Maybe so pathetic and ordinary? Don’t worry, I won’t get hurt if you say you got the wrong Satoshi and now you find that loser good at nothing before your eyes.” Says Satoshi, lowering his sight.
“First of all, I never get wrong” says the unicorn, looking at him so intensely Satoshi feels he’s blazing up for embarrassment “Second, it wasn’t my intention to say you’re pathetic, but … how can I define you? Let’s say … handsome!”
“Handsome? Me!?” says Satoshi, lifting his eyes back in disbelief, bursting into laugh. “You’re a winged unicorn and you come telling me I’m handsome? You, a creature of rare beauty!”
But the unicorn doesn’t answer.
“Why did you ask for my help?”
“Because you’re the only person who can help me get out from this terrifying place.”
Satoshi looks around. The place is splendid, just as he drew it, and there’s nothing terrifying in it, on the opposite, erring for presumption, it’s an enchanting place, worthy of the work of an architect!
“It doesn’t look so bad …”
The unicorn looks at him like he’s insane “But I want to escape!”
“And why don’t you?”
“Cause I can’t do it myself obviously! And then, this place is protected by a magic barrier which prevent me to run away! Satoshi, you’re the only one who can save me!”
“Me? What can I do? I’m not a hero! I’m just an employee, except for drawing I have no particular capacities or abilities! I’m useless!”
The horse looks at him with sad eyes
“I understand … you don’t want to help me. I’ve interfered with your dreams pointlessly. You aren’t a hero! You’re just a scared and insecure kid!” he shouted, mad.
“Hey! I’m 30! I’m not a kid, even though I’m short!”
“Being old doesn’t necessarily put you wise! Good bye Satoshi!” with these last words the unicorn flies away, causing a blast of wind so strong Satoshi has to cover his eyes.
Feeling cold, he opens his eyes and he finds out still being naked in the tub, immersed in the now ice-cold water.
“It’s just a dream …” he repeats to himself while stepping out the tub to get dry and go to bed.
Will I dream him again, he asks to himself, before falling asleep once again, but for the first time in months he sleeps without any dream.
Waking up earlier than usual, he decides to go to work.
Maybe I won’t have that weird dreams again.
“Oh-chan, what are you doing already here?” asks Nino, seeing him appear.
“Me? And you? I thought I’d have found only Sakurai san!”
“I open the office. I’ve got a copy of the key. That’s you the only one who hasn’t it, cause you’re always late. Why this morning you came so early?”he asks, surprised “Won’t you be here to try it on with my Sho?” asks, suspicious.
“Your Sho? Have we come to this? Aren’t you falling in love, are you? Anyway, I’m not interested, just keep him for you! I just woke up earlier.”
“Your dream once again?”
“No … the voice has disappeared …” answers, strangely frustrated while talking
“That’s what you wanted, isn’t it? That it would disappear.”
“That’s so … just you know … it’s weird now … that’s all.”
“Good morning Ninomi … Ohno-kun? What are you doing already here? Do you want to force rain? “ asks Sakurai, reaching the office.
“Good morning. I’ve just woken up early and decided to come to work, that’s all.”
“Huh? Good. Ninomiya-kun, I’d like …” he starts saying, but his phone rings and, saying sorry, he goes answering,
“I’d like too, so much … but you don’t understand …” sighs Nino.
“You’d like what?” Satoshi provokes him, knowing his coworker is just dying to express his desire on their boss
“Do Sakurai Sho!”
“I beg your pardon?” asks the man himself, ending the call and coming back to them
“Do … something to make Sakurai-san give me more work” answers Nino, embarrassed, fearing the boss heard him.
“You’d have to take inspiration from him, Ohno-kun. Ninomiya-kun really is a hard worker! That’s fine, I’ll find out something for you to do …” he says, heading for his own office.
“Everything you want …” answers Nino, craftily, but Sho is already in his office.
“The day he’ll understand your sexual hints, he’ll fire you. Can’t you just hold back, sometimes?”
“I’d like him not to hold back, if you get what I mean …”
“Got it ...”
In the meanwhile, the other coworkers have arrived, so the two head to their desks.
But Satoshi can’t think of anything than the unicorn of his dream, who seemed so real.
He connects his desk’s PC and searchers for unicorns.
“Unicorns?” asks Nino, stepping from behind him.
“Oh, God, Nino! Do you want me dead for scare!? Well, they’re fascinating, don’t you think?”
“I like just one unicorn, or well, the horn of just one person, if you get …”
“Got it! I’m so idiot, asking you something about birds, fishes or whatever reminds you of Sakurai’s penis!”mutters while Nino gestures him to shut up, but vainly “Maybe Sakurai even has a small one!” he ends, and Nino runs a hand on his own face.
“So, I would have a small one …” he hears, and turning he sees, in horror, Sho himself staring madly at him, with crossed arms.
“Sakurai-san … I … I …”
“In my office, Ohno-kun! Now!” says, going before him.
“He never says it to me with this master’s authoritarian voice.” Says Nino, disappointed, receiving a black stare from Satoshi, who’s entering Sho’s office, closing the door.
“Ohno-kun …”
“Sakurai-san, I pray you, I didn’t want to show disrespect toward you. Don’t fire me, please!” prays Satoshi, interrupting him.
“Ohno-kun …” repeats Sho, shaking his head “I think it’s better you take some holydays.”
“Holydays?”
“Yes. You relax, you do what you want, your mind off and you come back to work calmly, because now you’re quite worrying me. You look tired, you fall asleep while working … I understand that maybe this isn’t the work of your dreams, and it doesn’t suit your personality, but this is the only job you have, and in these days is better you hold on it. I see you as a nice person and I have no intention of firing you, you swallow all my blusters, so rest an come back psyched up, ok?”
“Ok. Thank you Sakurai-san. I’ll rest and come back recharged to 100%!” states Satoshi.
“Don’t exaggerate, now! You’re extremely lazy! Go, you’re starting your holydays now. I don’t want to see your face until next week. Ah, send Ninomiya-kun here, I’ll give him some of your work.”
“He’ll be happy to come …”
“What?”
“Nothing … I’m becoming like him. Thank you again Sakurai-san.”
Satoshi gets out , takes up his things and after reassuring Nino saying he’s not fired, he just takes some holydays and that Sakurai waits for him In his office, and he leaves.
Is just 10 in the morning and Satoshi is walking around in the city.
The job takes nearly his whole day, and now he can’t even go fishing, as it’s too late to set off. He’ll go tomorrow, he says to himself, but he remembers he has promised to Masaki he would have gone to the dress fitting to get measured for the best man dress.
Why have the best men to be dressed th same, then … rich people are incomprehensible.
Resigned to the idea of being trapped In his friend wedding, he takes a walk in the near park, and he sits on a bench. How peaceful seem the people he meets! Old couples walking arm in arm remembering some nostalgic happening of their youth. Calm people jogging or walking their dog.
Children playing carelessly, unmindful of future and what lies ahead.
From where he’s seated, he can see the fountain in the centre of the park, now turned off as it’s already autumn, and seeing it his mind goes back to the winged unicorn of his dream.
Who knows why he was asking him for help …
Don’t worry so much, it’s just a dream.
He repeats to himself, when an iced breeze ruffles his hair and in the air he smells the unmistakable rose perfume.
The unicorn is next to the fountain and looks at him.
“Unicorn!” he calls him, and the unicorn starts running on his direction, making Satoshi fear he’ll be ran down from that crazy run.
He closes his eyes, waiting for the impact, but instead of being swept away, he feels as he’s been passed through, and inside him a deep sadness fills his soul.
When he opens his eyes, the unicorn isn’t there anymore.
“Oh shit! Also hallucinations, now! I’m going insane! Now I’ll believe I’m a Smurf and I’m going smurfing in the wood with other smurfs, or I’ll get crazy looking for my Fairly Oddparents, or I’ll fly around with a mini skirt on believing I’m a Winx!” he says, exasperated “Got to go back home!”
He starts running like hell and he doesn’t stop until he isn’t in his apartment. He dashes in the kitchen and he prepares a strong coffee, he can’t risk to fall asleep.
Caffeine does its effect and he applies to all those activities he never want to do, that means cleaning, and he even goes to the supermarket so he can prepare himself a real dinner.
When everything is neat and trim and tummy is full, he seats on the couch to watch TV, but in the moment he touches the soft cloth he falls asleep.
“Wait, Unicorn! Wait! Don’t run away from me!” shouts Satoshi to the horse, who runs from him, in the garden of the castle. “I pray you, wait!” he says, being out of breath, sitting on the edge of the fountain.
“Leave me alone, Satoshi.”
“You asked for my help! Why now you don’t want it anymore?”
“Because …” says the horse, with sad eyes. Satoshi, even though hesitant, caresses his muzzle, and the animal doesn’t draw back.
“What’s your name?” Satoshi asks him.
“Me? My name? You really want to know what my name is?”
“Of course! You know mine, but I don’t know yours. You haunted me for nights and nights, I have the right to know the name of who disturbed my sleep, isn’t it?” he answers, with a smile.
“My name is Jun …”
“Jun … such a beautiful name. So, Jun, why did you ask for my help?”
“I guess explanations have to wait. Bye bye Satoshi …”
“What? Eh?”
Satoshi wakes up on his home couch. It’s morning already and he rubs his face to completely wake up, still feeling on his fingers the roses’ perfume.
Now he really can worry, it isn’t a simple dream anymore, everything’s too real!
His cell phone rings, and he sees a message from Masaki informing him of the place and hour for the fitting.
“But I’s nearly on the other side of the city! Couldn’t he write to me earlier?!”
He quickly dresses up and runs out home, to catch the tube. Then he has to use all his energy to run to the place they’re waiting for him.
“Welcome!” one of the wedding dresses shop salesgirls receives him.
“Hi, I’m here to get measured for the best men’s dresses … the bride must be already here …”
“Oh, yes! We were waiting for you. So you are the groom’s best man. The bride-to-be and her best man are this way. Please, follow me.” She says, setting off to one of the hall rooms. “Becky-san! Here’s your guest!”
“Here I am! Oh, you’re way cuter than Macchi described you!” says a girl in a light blue wedding dress
“Nice to meet you! I’m Becky, Macchi’s fiancée!”
“Macchi? You mean Masa? Anyway, nice to meet you, I’m Ohno Satoshi . Congratulations for your marriage and thank you for the invite and for the great honour to be one of the best men.” Answers Satoshi, politely.
“Haw formal you are! Now we are friends! Shocchi! Come on! Macchi’s best man has arrived, hurry! Excuse him, he’s a nice person, but so square …”
“Don’t introduce me as square to your boyfriend’s friends, please!” says the boy, arriving, and Satoshi remains amazed seeing him.
“Sa … Sakurai-san?”
“Ohno-kun?! I told you I didn’t want to see your face until next week!”
“Shocchi, you already know Oh-chan?” asks the girl, confused.
“I … well …”
“So, your best friend who’s gonna marry a first-class idiot is Becky-san?” says Satoshi, making Sho’s face change lots of colours in shame.
“Shocchi, stop going around telling bad things about my Macchi.” The girl scolds him
“Well, a man who’s kept by his girlfriend is just a worm!”
“So, how did you meet, Shocchi and you?” asks Becky, ignoring her friend’s words.
“Well, Shocchi …” starts Satoshi, making fun of Sho, who stares at him like he wants to burn him down “He’s my boss, I work for him.”
“Still not for long.” Hisses Sho
“You work for Shocchi? So, you’re … is it him?” asks the girl, overexcited, to her friend “Is it him your personal torment?”
“Torment?”
“Becky, that dress doesn’t suit you. Why don’t you try on another one, maybe some sizes larger? The bump shows too much! Hurry up!” says Sho, pushing her in the nearest fitting room.
“Is it him or not?” insists the girl, but Sho isn’t listening anymore, he has seized Satoshi and dragged him in a near little room.
“What does it mean I’m your personal torment, Shocchi … ehm Sakurai-san?” asks Satoshi, when they’re alone.
“Call me Shocchi again and I fire you, Ohno-kun!” yells Sho, walking back and forth as he’s crazy.
“Sakurai-san?”
“Now you know it, and Becky won’t stop asking until she’ll know the truth …” he says, staring directly in his eyes
“I … I fell in love!” he burst out, blushing
“For me?” asks Satoshi puzzled.
“Obviously not! You idiot!”
“For Becky-san?”
“No! What … what the hell have you got in that head of yours!? I fell for … for … oh I tell you, ok! For Ninomiya-kun! Says, sitting heavily on the couch, his face completely red.
Satoshi stares at him, surprised. He had never imagined that their serious and short-tempered boss could confess to him that he fell for Nino, his friend who dreams so much he can touch and kiss Sho.
“You’ll think I’m a swine …” sighs Sho.
“No, why would I have to?” he asks; he’s used to the indecent sentences Nino says always, he doesn’t get shocked for so little “It’s beautiful being in love … I guess …”
“Oh, yes, how couldn’t it be … if you fall for someone who could love you back! Ninomiya-kun could never get interest on me, there’s no way!”
Satoshi would like to tell him that Nino is more than interested, but he doesn’t know if Nino, beyond feeling an overwhelming physical urge does love their boss.
Suddenly, in the room Satoshi smells the roses’ perfume and, like he’s on a trance, he looks around, searching for the unicorn, while Sho says something he isn’t listening.
Where are you? He asks, looking for him everywhere, and he sees something in one of the mirrors. But it isn’t the unicorn, indeed it’s the image of a dark haired young man.
“Ohno-kun, are you listening to me? I’m asking for an opinion!” Sho recalls him, and Satoshi turn to look at him.
“What?” he asks, then turns again on the mirror direction. But the boy isn’t there anymore.
“I was asking you if in your opinion I have any chance with Ninomiya-kun!” repeats Sho, angry
“Ah … yes …”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh, how can I know! I have my own problems! It doesn’t interest me in anyway if you love Nino and you don’t have the guts to tell him!?” he yells at Sho
Sho stares at him, unbelieving that someone shouted at him this way.
“I’m sorry, Sakurai-san, but … what’s the meaning on running away? You say a person like Nino could never be interested on someone like you, but … how can you know it? Has Nino told you? Have you ever heard Nino tell what you’re afraid of or is your proud blocking you? In my opinion, you’d have to tell Nino. You’ll be surprised from what he’ll answer to you …”
“Ohno-kun …” asks Sho “Are you in love?”
“Me?”
“You speak like a person vexed from an impossible love.”
“I … no, I’m not in love.”
A salesgirl arrives and measures up the two men, and as she leave, Satoshi says quickly goodbye to Sho and Becky, saying to her to send him the dress, any colour it will be.
He wants to go back home immediately, he wants to go to bed and dream the splendid animal.
Sho asked to him if he’s in love, and he obviously isn’t. He doesn’t know none who makes his heart beat strong or who interest him in a particular way.
He just want to know how to help Jun, the unicorn of his dreams.
He arrives at home and throws himself in the bed, hoping to fall asleep at once. He’s terribly lazy and he always feels sleepy, that wouldn’t be difficult falling asleep.
Unfortunately, his laziness doesn’t help him, and he spends the whole afternoon turning in the bed with no chance to sleep.
“That’s really nice! Me who can’t sleep! The Armageddon will happen soon!” burst out, throwing pillows all around the room. “Jun! Help me! I want to meet you! I want to see you!” he shouts desperately, as he feels some tears rolling down his cheeks.
He wanted so badly that the voice disturbing all his dreams wound disappear, and now he couldn’t wait to meet Jun again and speak with him.
He spends the afternoon thinking of why does he want so much to see that creature again, which probably came entirely from his imagination, until then, once it already is dark, someone rings to his door.
Satoshi goes opening, enthusiastic, as a winged unicorn could go and ring to enter in a house.
“Oh … that’s you Nino …” says, a little bit frustrated, and the sharp friend notices it.
“I’m as happy as you to meet, Oh-chan, no need you smother me with your affection!” he says sarcastic.
“Why those red eyes? Did you cry?” asks Nino, entering the apartment.
“No way! But, why are you here?” Asks Satoshi, gesturing him to take a seat on the couch.
“Sakurai-san told me to stay at the office after the others had left and …” he stops.
Satoshi fears he made a trouble talking so directly to their boss and that the man would rather had fired Kazunari than declare to him.
“And?”
“And … I did it …”
“What?”
“How can you ask what Oh-chan! Have I to make you see a video about sex?! I had sex with Sakurai!” says, blushing.
“I don’t understand, that’s you wanted until yesterday morning! Do him in his office! What’s wrong now? He really has a small one?” asks Satoshi, don’t getting what the problem is.
“No! He doesn’t have a small one! I’m not complaining for the best ex of my life but … well … Sakurai told me he loves me after we had sex. He said sorry cause he just wanted to declare, not jump on me on a certain Kitagawa-san’s paperwork … do you understand?”
“I understand we’ll have to print again Kitagawa-san’s paperwork cause it’s dirty”
“I didn’t know what to answer to him! I was astonished! I didn’t expect him to say he loves me! I thought having sex with him would have been enough … but …”
“You love him!” says Satoshi, finally getting what Nino means “you masked your love with your perverted behaviour, but instead you love him! So, why didn’t you tell him before?”
“I don’t know! I was scared and I ran away! I didn’t think he would have returned my feelings! I didn’t think that a such important man could fall for me …”mumbles Nino embarrassed.
“You’re perfect for each other …” sighs Satoshi, under the questioning look of his friend. “Nothing. I’m happy for you Nino. Now you only have to find the courage to give him your answer and everything will go on place …”
“And when will you find the courage, Oh-chan?” asks Nino, seriously.
“Me?”
“There’s something you’re hiding from me, and it could be fine, but you’re hiding it from yourself and this definitely isn’t fine. Oh-chan, I want to talk with Sakurai, indeed with Sho. I want to tell him I love him, really a lot, and that’s all thank to you. I don’t know what troubles you, but if you want to tell me I’m here. And even though you don’t want, try to find the courage and admit what you feel.”
“Nino I … think I’m going crazy! I don’t know what to do!”
“The key to understand it is in your heart … no one else, except of you, can do it … fine, I go. I’ll write a mail to Sho and tell him to meet downtown and talk.” Says Nino, getting up from the couch.
“A public place? Isn’t it better if you go to his house? Knowing you, you’ll be on him before you can talk to him properly …”
“Maybe I’ll do so! And you, bring your feelings to light! Bye!”
Remaining alone, Satoshi goes over Nino’s words, but anyway he finds no solution; finally sleep prevail him and he dopes off.
“Jun!” says, seeing him near the fountain and running to reach him, hugging his muzzle.
The familiar roses’ perfume makes him feel good and he feels as Jun is hugging him back, but it’s impossible as Jun is a horse “I wanted so badly to see you, you know?”
“Me too, Satoshi.”
“I tried to ask your help to make me asleep to meet you, but you didn’t hear me.”
“I heard you clearly, but there’s nothing I can do from here …” answers sadly Jun
“Tell me what can I do to let you out from here ”
“I don’t know … I thought you would know …”
Satoshi is ruffled. What can he ever do for Jun?
“Why are you trapped here?” asks him
“I …”
“Jun, please! I need to know and I don’t have much time. I could wake up in every moment for hunger! I haven’t touched any food today, and I could wake up to empty the fridge!” says worried, and Jun smiles lightly
“I’ve been imprisoned here. Many centuries ago a witch fell in love for me and did anything to conquer me, but I didn’t love her. In hunger for my continuous refusals she cursed me and she locked me in this place.”
“A woman who falls in love for an animal …”
“I … am a human.” Sighs the horse and Satoshi opens his eyes wide in disbelief. “This is my real appearance …” goes on, mirroring himself on the water surface, and Satoshi sees the dark haired boy he saw that morning in the mirror of the shop.
Jun draws back, for not seeing himself.
“I understand why she fell for you …” murmurs Satoshi, turning to face the unicorn and look in his eyes “You’re so beautiful Jun …”
“I’m so tired to hear that I’m beautiful” growls Jun in sorrow.
“That’s why you’re so sad? You think you’re worth only for your appearance, to others? I felt your sadness the other day, while you ran through me … Jun, I want to help you and take you away from here …”
“And how? You said you have no idea …”
“Only me can help you, I’m the only one who can find the key …” suddenly a screwy idea makes its way in his thoughts “Jun, wait a moment! This is a castle and now we’re in the garden, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“And where can you go?”
“Actually before there was only the wood, completely dark … then I found myself in front of the fountain and since then I can walk in the garden, that before wasn’t here. But I don’t get what’s your point …”
“The witch imprisoned you in a dark place where none could see or hear you and in my dreams I couldn’t see you, but I could hear your voice. But two days ago I imagined this castle and the garden with the fountain, and now you’re here! Don’t you understand, Jun? I can let you out!” it doesn’t seem Jun understands “What I draw takes shape in my dreams! I am the key to let you out from here! I can do it!”
“And how?”
“I’ll draw a key! The garden will end somewhere, can’t be infinite! There will be a wall and a key closed gate. If, awaken, I draw the key, the gate will open and you could be free!” says, with so much enthusiasm even Jun starts hoping.
“For real, Satoshi? Will I be free?”
“I promise it to you, Jun!”
“But I’m a unicorn …”
“Well, I’ll draw you as a man … I’ll draw you becoming a normal boy in the moment you pass the gate. Jun, you’ll be free!”
“Oh God, Satoshi, I’m so happy!”
“Will you stay with me, Jun?”asks Satoshi excited, not controlling the flow of his thoughts, noticing only after that he said it “I … sorry … its … I got used to talk to you … and I grew fond of you, that’s it …”
“See you Satoshi …” answers Jun
“Eh? Wait Jun!”
“You’re waking up … see you” and in the moment Jun says so, Satoshi suddenly wakes up. In his hands he’s holding one of Jun’s wing feathers.
“It isn’t a dream. You’re real Jun! God, you’re real!”
Happy he found the way to save Jun, he decides to start immediately drawing the gate and the key after breakfast, but, as the good artist he is, he decides to work calmly in order to don’t forget any detail.
He also decides to go in the park near the office to get better inspiration.
When he gets there, he sees the bench is occupied, and he’s about to leave when he recognizes the two hugging each other “Nino? Sakurai-san?”
The both of them flinch for being spotted
“Ohno-kun! Damn it! That’s you!” mumbles Sho, his face completely red.
“So you brought it to light?” asks, though the answer is clear.
“Oh-chan … I knew from Sho what you told him yesterday. Why didn’t you tell me that was due to you that Sho decided to declare to me?” says Nino
“I didn’t … sincerely didn’t think of it at all …”
“So typical of Ohno-kun … he does but he doesn’t think.” Chimes in Sho “Why are you here? I gave you holydays, if I remember it well”
“I’m about to find the key of my feelings …”
“Eh?”
“Come on, Sho-kun, let’s leave Oh-chan alone. I think he needs it.” Says Nino, taking Sho’s hand and making as he’s leaving; but he turns back and smiles to his friend “Ganbatte Oh-chan! You can do it!” he says, and Sho to smiles, encouraging, pulling Nino in a hug.
I can do it, says Satoshi to himself, starting to draw the gate at the edge of the garden, closed from a huge heart shaped padlock. Then he starts drawing Jun, trying to portray him in all his beauty, about to pass through the gate. He draws the key and he places it so that he can easily reach I and set Jun free.
Jun will be free! And he will help him! If he has been trapped for many centuries, he won’t have another place to live in. Yes, he will help him and he’ll welcome him in his house! He’s sure! He can’t live without Jun, by now he’s part of his life.
Finally, Satoshi’s wait is paid off and, just after dinner, he sits on the couch waiting to meet Jun, as he longed for.
Sleep doesn’t make him wait long.
“Satoshi!” Jun calls him, running in his direction, still in the appearance of an unicorn. “I couldn’t go out, even though the gate has appeared! Where’s the key?” he asks, worried.
“It’s right here” and he points at his chest “It’s in my heart, Jun.”
Jun seems worried, and Satoshi understand it’s no time for sentimentalism; Jun cannot wait anymore. He puts his right hand on his chest, at heart height, and the key appears; it opens the padlock of the gate, and from outside an icing wind comes.
“Are you ready Jun?” asks, turning, and Jun is back to his human appearance. Satoshi gets lost gazing at him
“Satoshi … thanks … thank you so much”
“Now we can stay together Jun” says Satoshi, taking his hand, but Jun draws back in the direction of the outside the garden
“I’m sorry Satoshi. I’m infinitely grateful to you cause you saved me, but I can’t stay with you …”
“Why?” asks Satoshi, but Jun passes through the gate and disappears.
Satoshi wakes up, with tears down his cheeks.
Jun cannot have abandoned him this way, after he asked to stay with him.
He can’t, because Satoshi thinks he feels something for him.
Scared from the idea he lost Jun, Satoshi hopes to find him in his dreams, but days go by and Satoshi always dreams he’s alone in the garden, searching for Jun.
At work he isn’t more careful than before, and, if possible, he’s if possible more silent.
Nino doesn’t know how to help his friend, and he and Sho are really worried.
“Ohno-kun, you’re fired!” tries Sho, the morning before Masaki’s and Becky’s wedding.
“Uhm … yes, I’ll bring you immediately your coffee.”
“You see? He doesn’t react! Sho, what can we do?!” asks Nino “He’s not himself!”
“I don’t know what can we do Kazu, I just hope tomorrow morning he’ll be more lively …”
“In your opinion, will he be?” asks Kazunari, sceptical, and Sho tries to smile him, reassuring, before kissing him on the lips.
Satoshi can’t resign himself by now. A month has gone since he helped Jun, and the boy has never appeared in his dreams or in reality.
He’s got to set his mind off of it. Jun doesn’t want to stay with him and has disappeared, that’s all.
How could he just think that Jun would really have accepted to stay with a loser like he is?!
He fooled himself just because the boy asked for his help.
The dress had arrived and, if normally he would have found it absurd, now he doesn’t care at all. He could also seem a clown at Masaki’s wedding, doesn’t matter.
Actually, he doesn’t want at all going to the marriage itself.
He’d like so much to stay at home being depressed, but the groom’s car pulls in at his place.
“Oh-chan!” shouts Masaki, at the top of his hyper excitement.
“Masa, you deafen me … good morning.” Answers, sitting in the car, that mover off to the ceremony location.
Masaki talks all the way long, saying how anxious and nervous he is for the wedding, scared to burst out crying or, worse, to say something stupid, but Satoshi doesn’t listen to him, he stares out of the car’s window, thinking only of how many hours will he have to spend smiling to all the other wedding guests.
As he imagined, the castle is wonderful, decorated for the party.
The ceremony will be lead in one of the halls, and everything is set.
Masaki’s parents greet Satoshi, asking him if he came with someone. Masaki looks more and more impatient and has already tortured his bow tie a thousand times.
“Get calm, Masa …” Satoshi tries to reassure him, fixing his jam, when Sho reaches them at the side of the altar, dressed exactly like Satoshi, but in red instead of blue.
“Masaki … so here we are.”
“Yes. I’m so afraid, Sho-chan!” Masaki answers to him, and Satoshi smiles thinking the both Masaki and Becky call the impassive Sakurai with this kind of nicknames.
He turns and sees Nino sitting next to, he thinks, Sho’s parents; he thinks so because the man looks really like Sho, and Nino is displaying his best smiles.
The hall is filled up and, after a little wait, as expected, the bride makes her triumphant entrance, walked by her father.
Masaki gives up and starts crying softly, and Satoshi hands him his handkerchief , used by the boy to wet his tears and blow his nose and then try to give it back to Satoshi, who gestures he can keep it.
The ceremony is short, but intense.
Satoshi can see the love in Masaki’s and Becky’s eyes, the tender looks Sho and Nino exchange now and then, and the joy of those present for this happy union.
The priest declares the two married and Masaki, soundly greeted by the people in the hall, everyone standing, kisses Becky, now his wife.
Satoshi cheers too, when the well-known roses’ perfume attracts him, and he suddenly turns in the hall’s door direction, seeing Jun cheering, and then turning his eyes away when their looks meet.
Jun leaves the hall, and Satoshi, without thinking, runs out to follow him.
“Jun! Wait!” he yells at him, running after him downstairs “I pray you! At least explain me why!”
Jun stops on the landing and Satoshi reaches him.
“You run fast, even having those short legs …” says Jun, without turning.
“Jun … please … I … did I do something wrong?” asks, and Jun turns suddenly in his direction
“Something wrong? No”
“So, why did you disappear?”
“I … didn’t … I already troubled you so much. You saved me and I don’t know the proper way to thank you. You wanted to help me more, even after you set me free and I couldn’t abuse your kindness any longer …” explains Jun.
“Idiot!” Shouts Satoshi, angry, clenching his fists at his sides “I helped you cause I wanted it! At the beginning I didn’t know what to do, me, so useless, so common, but you believed in me and even if it seems impossible I was able to save you. Do you want to thank me? So face up to your responsibilities!” says grasping on his arm and staring intensely in those dark eyes.
“Responsibilities?”
“You made me love you and then you disappeared!” says Satoshi, blushing, leaving Jun unable to speak. “Well … yep … I love you … I guess. No, it’s a lie, I don’t guess it, I love you and stop, I know! I understood it in this month while not knowing where were you or if were you fine. I feared I imagined everything, but I’m way too lazy to imagine even a person. I’m crazy, isn’t it? You won’t get any interest on what I’m saying. I’m pathetic.” Whines Satoshi, but Jun holds him and Satoshi feels the same warmth I felt in that dream.
“I was afraid … afraid of you.”
“Of me?”
“Yes. One thing was help me, another one was … love me back …” whispers in his hear.
“You …” asks Satoshi, puzzled, moving him a little bit away just to look in his eyes, and Jun nods.
“I’ve been confined for many years in the darkness and then … I ended up in your dreams. It still was all dark, but I felt a weird warmth. I felt your thoughts, tour feelings, and I asked for your help. You could understand me and you would have helped me. Then I saw you before my eyes. I liked you from the first moment …”
“Oh Jun …”
“So you … love me too?” asks Jun hesitant.
“Yes Jun, I do love you.”
“Hey! The groom’s best man wouldn’t disappear like this to … go off with one of the guests!” says Nino, arriving with Sho.
“I … no, well … Jun isn’t …”
“So, that’s him your boyfriend, Sho-kun?” asks Jun, and the man blushes, but Nino takes his hand.
“Oh, here you are! Junji I’ve got to throw the bouquet, so place yourself somewhere I can see you!” says the bride, arriving with Masaki.
“What a bundle of fun …”
“No, wait a moment!” says Satoshi, confused “You know each other? I mean, you know Jun?”
“Well, you know, he’s my brother” says Becky, and Satoshi looks at her in confusion.
“Oh-chan, I didn’t know you were trying it on a such handsome boy!” states Nino.
“Hey! And me?!” asks Sho miffed.
“Let’s go, the party is about to start.” Say the bride and groom, making their way towards the party hall, Nino and Sho following them.
Jun is about to follow the group when Satoshi stops him, grabbing his wrist.
“You’re Becky’s brother? But …”
“I had to find a way to gatecrash the wedding and see you again, isn’t it?”
“But … I don’t understand …”
“I wouldn’t have to be here, in this time … I’d have to be dead a lot of time ago but the curse imprisoned me forever. Thank to you I came back to living … I … so, I manipulated the things a bit …” he explains, smiling to him.
Satoshi would ask more, but maybe the less he knows the best it is.
“Scared?” Jun aska
“Yes … of login you.” He answers; Jun hugs him once more.
“I love you, Jun” Satoshi says, kissing him sweetly on his lips.
“I love you too Satoshi.” And taking each other’s hand they head to the party hall.
“Aren’t you too a witch?” asks Satoshi. Jun burst out laughing.
“Stay with me forever and you’re gonna find out.”
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no subject
Date: 2012-03-09 04:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-03-14 03:40 am (UTC)The way Sho was a 'ruthless' boss that was a total squishy when it came to Nino (though not admitting it)
Masaki and Becky are <3
Thanks a lot for sharing this story. :D