Sakurai Sho part 13

[krystalkatz.livejournal.com]

The arcade was just as impressive as Nino would have thought for the hotel and it took all of his acting skills not to open his mouth and stare around in amazement, like Aiba had done, and pretend that he had been here before. There were all of the latest machines while having some that he had never even heard of before. Aiba was just as impressed but that didn’t stop him from going on and on about his date with Satomi.

“We went to SeaWorld like you said and Satomi-chan loved it! We fed the dolphins and we stroked manta rays…Thank-you for suggesting it…” He rabbled on and Nino gripped the handle of the controller tighter keeping his eyes fixed on the screen and the Ninjas that were popping and down from behind objects. His mouth was just a tight as he replied;

“I’m glad you had a good time…”

“We did! A really good time!” Aiba enthused his hand smacking in the middle of his back and almost jerking him into the screen. “Ah sorry Nino…Do you want a drink?”

“If you’re buying…” Nino said with a growl as his character was killed with a loud burst of music and the large words ‘You’re dead’ flashed up on the screen. Aiba hurried off in search of drinks and left Nino to stand beside the machine and wish he was back up in the room with Sho. He wasn’t sure how long he could cope with having to pretend that everything was fine and dandy when all he wanted was to break down and cry, bemoaning the fate of loving somebody that would never be able to love you back. It was made even harder by the fact that his friend was very clearly smitten with Satomi and it was only going to be a matter of time before the girl was going to be coming out with them and he was going to be the third wheel. A shadow fell over him and the scent of masculine aftershave filled his nostrils “Masa, sorry I’m starting to get a head…” He started without looking up and when he did he was genuinely surprised to see that it was Sho and not his friend that was standing in front of him with a slightly teasing smile on his face.

“Um do you mind?” The older man asked motioning to the game he had just been playing with a jerk of the head and Nino nodded moving slightly so he could put in some money. “Are you okay?” Sho asked pretending to be interested in the machine while looking him intently in the face and Nino wasn’t sure if it was sweet or creepy that the older man was obviously stalking him. “Sorry…I was going to go to the bar…But…I noticed that there was something wrong…Is he the one that you use me to forget?”

“…I guess…” Nino shrugged deciding that it was half the truth while he was with Sho he didn’t have to think about Aiba or Jun. His eyes went up and away from Sho to see where his friend was relaxing only when he saw him still at the confectionary stand in the corner of the arcade. Sho followed his gaze and let out a slow hum saying softly;

“Hmm...I thought that maybe we’d look similar but we don’t...He’s beautiful though…”

“He’s straight…” Nino growled turning back to him surprised when Sho’s hand came up and caressed his cheek very lightly for about two seconds before falling away again as he chuckled focusing on the first level of the game telling him;

“Don’t worry, I am more than happy with you…And not even my libido would cover two teenagers…”

“I’m surprised…” Nino grumbled blushing hotly when he received another laugh and Sho bumped against his arm. Nino rolled his eyes having to admit that he was feeling better until he heard Aiba calling out to him. “You have to go…”

“Why? I’m just playing the game…” Sho mumbled with a smirk and Nino growled a little before walking over to his friend and steering him away as far as he could from Sho while sticking his tongue out at the older man who smirked and gave him a look that told him that he would have to pay for that later.

“Who’s that guy?” Aiba asked as they sat down on a squishy sofa in the far end of the arcade sipping their Pepsi with ice that must have cost a small fortune in a place like this. Nino almost choked on his drink causing it to fizz up into his nasal passage and come out of his nose.

“Wha-What…Guy?” He spluttered as he grabbed the napkin Aiba quickly held out to him unable to believe that this was one of those days that his friend chose to be observant. Aiba patted him on the back and then motioned over to Sho who was still playing the ninja zombie game.

“Him? You were talking to him so I thought that you knew him…”

“What? No…He was just asking me how to play the game…” Nino shrugged the burn in his nose receding as he hoped and prayed that his cheeks wouldn’t turn red and give him away. Aiba hummed his eyebrows knitting together as he began to nibble on his bottom lip. He didn’t say anything though and just continued to stare at him his beautiful almond eyes boring into his causing his stomach to churn like a washing machine “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Well…It looked like…He was hitting on you…” Aiba whispered slowly putting his hand over his mouth like that would stop anyone else from hearing what they were talking about. Nino’s heart fell to deep inside his stomach as his skin quivered like it had been hit with an ice shower, his teeth wanted to start chattering but he shook his head frantically and got to his feet pacing backwards and forwards trying to warm himself back up.

“What? Don’t be gross…” he grumbled his fingers scrapping through his hair “You’re becoming as bad as Jun and his minions…Not everyone is gay…”

“But you are, aren’t you?” Aiba whispered gently his hand on his arm and Nino could hear his blood rushing through his ears as his chest pounded painfully against his ribs. “It doesn't bother me though Nino! I swear, you're my best friend no matter what...”

“Shut up…I’m not gay…” Nino denied in a flat voice shaking his hand away and stalking towards the exit almost spilling the drink, his hand was shaking so much “I’ve got a headache I’m going home…”

“Nino…” Aiba called loudly chasing after him but Nino ignored him stalking through the hotel foyer and out into the cooling night. Once he was outside and the cool air was rushing around his face he felt a little calmer and he realised that how he had just acted had more than likely confirmed his friend’s suspicions. He couldn’t believe how scared he felt even when Aiba said that it didn’t bother him.

“Fuck” He spat loudly causing the two footmen to stare at him with shocked expressions and giving them a quick apologetic smile he hurried away aware that Aiba was close behind him. He moved a few feet away from the door and then stopped waiting for his friend to catch up. It was only a minute and then Aiba was there red faced and apologetic.

“Nino…Sorry…I didn’t mean…” He started but Nino shook his head playing around with his cardboard cup “If you don’t want to talk about it…Well that’s fine!”

“Aiba…Please…” Nino begged finding himself trembling wishing that they could just forget that this whole conversation had ever taken place.
“Just shut up…”

“You’re my best friend…It doesn’t bother me…I swear…”

“Fine, I admit it, I’m a fucking fag…There are you happy?” Nino snapped his voice cracking through the air and he squatted down dropping the drink and holding his head in his hands. Aiba joined him his arms wrapping around him tightly his head resting on his back

“Jeez, Nino, do you really think that it would bother me?” He asked squeezing him tightly and Nino let out a dry laugh swallowing down a lump from his throat.

“I don’t know…You…Know…With Jun and…All those idiots…” Nino admitted horrified to find that he sounded close to tears. Aiba turned him around and pressed his lips to his neck squeezing him again.

“I’m not like them…But…I'm a little miffed..." He said and Nino frowned looking into his face surprised to see that he was grinning like a loon.

"What? Why?"

"Well...don't I turn you on?" He pouted batting his eyelashes and Nino ignored the fluttering feeling in his heart and smacked his arm letting out a snort of laughter.

"Idiot..." He said knowing that there was still some things that he couldn’t admit but for now he was both glad and surprised that he had his friend’s support.

TBC
A/N: I hope this is okay ^_^