krystalkatzficz | Only a dream part 11

Sho ran his fingers through his salt and pepper hair his heart tapping out an annoying beat on the inside of his ribs as he looked at the teenaged idol that was kneeling in front of him with his back pointed in his direction. Masaki hadn’t noticed him yet, from the hum of music he could hear he could only suppose that the boy had earphones in and was listening to bright pop music, quite possibly Ohno Satoshi’s latest album, and was clearly enjoying it even going so far as to singalong every now and then in an out of tune way his head bobbing up and down as he did whatever it was he was doing in the bushes outside of his apartment.

Sho told himself that he should leave, that it was stupid to even contemplate working for the idol but now there wasn’t much of a choice left. He had burned all his bridges at the only tabloid that was willing to hire a hack like him in a rather unimpressive letter of resignation right before he had made sure his article about Masaki had been completely deleted with no hope of ever being recovered to harm him. It had been written in haste and he was glad that nobody else had been insane enough to be out that night a week ago and he had made sure that there was nobody there now.

He tried clearing his throat wanting to get the boy’s attention but failing as he just continued to do whatever it was he was doing in the bushes for a few more minutes before pulling back and stretching out his back and turning off the player at his hip. Sensing his chance Sho cleared his throat again saying gently;

“Aiba-san…?”

“Sho-chan! Sorry…You should have poked me in the back or something!” Masaki gasped spinning around so fast on the spot he almost fell flat on his face, and would have if Sho didn’t quickly put his hand out to stop him. “Thanks!” The boy gasped drawing back and wiping his face with muddy fingers causing Sho to look down at the earth and see that he had been planting around a dozen or so flowers around the bush “I was planting some flowers! I suppose that people will crush them again but I hope not! They make the place so much more pretty!”

“Yes…Um…I…You said…If I wanted…To come to you about a job…?”

“Ah! Yes! I remember! Come on up Sho-chan! We can talk better inside, ne!” Masaki said and in much the same way as he had a week ago Masaki grabbed a tight hold of his arm and pulled him indoors without a backwards glance.

Sho sat in the same chair that he had used for most of that night a week ago watching as the teen idol washed his hands and face before making them both a drink of coffee from the pot that had been bubbling on the side. He wasn’t sure how to feel about being back here in this apartment even if he was no longer a reporter out for a story. It hadn’t changed much, not that he was expecting it to in a week, but he did notice that instead of just green cushions there were bright red ones as well.

“I’m sorry that Nino-chan was so mean to you when you met, he was very sorry about it afterwards…” Masaki told him as he came over to sit on the chair and hand him the cup of strong coffee and Sho drank from it deeply and thankfully before letting out a soft sigh;

“He didn’t say anything that wasn’t true…”

“Yes he did, everything he said was untrue…You are not a parasite…A job is a job and although people might not agree with it that is all you do…”

“Not anymore…” Sho said swiftly cutting over the heartfelt words that did do something to sooth his troubled soul “I quit today…I know that you’re being nice and I thank-you for trying to make me feel less like an arsehole but…I hate what I’ve done to people…”

“Sho-chan…I am happy that you left for you but if it wasn’t you it would be somebody else…I hope you realise that one day…”

“You really are some sort of angel…” Sho sighed flashing the boy a smile feeling a painful sting of tears in his eyes that he barely managed to push away.

“I’m just a person, Sho-chan…And I am going to make mistakes...” Masaki hummed thoughtfully before bouncing up and down in his chair “That’s where you come in! I want you to be my bodyguard against reporters!”

TBC
A/N: I know, I know I said this was the last one but I wanted some romance in it so the next part is the last!