Sound of Silence Chapter 13 *last*

[lilly0]

Title: Sound of Silence 13/13
Pairing: Sakumoto, guests appearances by the rest of Arashi (maybe with a surprise side-pairing ;-)), and some others
Rating: up to R
Genre: AU, romance, maybe a bit suspense
Plot: It's in the middle of the night when Sho, a wealthy young business man, stumbles over an unconscious young man, beaten up and curled up in a dark alley. Tired from the way his life goes Sho decides to do something good and takes the man home. Once he wakes up however Sho realizes that the young man has forgotten all about his past, everything he is, and has lost his voice too. Everything that remained from his existence is his name: Matsumoto Jun. But who is he? What happened to him? Why was he lying on the street, beaten-up? And what kind of trauma did he encounter to loose his voice?
Note: This is the story that won the poll on my journal ^^ So, I had started writing it before the poll, kind of lost motivation in the middle of it and then with everyone's encouragement I picked it up again, and voilà :D  I hope this is going to be really interesting for you! There is some suspense in it, and we'll gradually uncover Jun's past.

 

Jun waits for the documents at hospital. He has just had his third and hopefully last check-up and Nino was pretty content with him and his progress. There is still some paperwork to do. He is just glad that he covered everything with the police and doesn’t need to worry about that anymore. Also he got back all his important documents that the brothel owners kept from him, such as birth certificate and alike, and he is finally back to being a normal citizen.

 

While he is waiting, he sees a dark-haired figure. Someone who is watching him for a few days already. Jun sighs, and signals him to come over.  “Don’t lurk around,” he complains. “It’s freaking me out.”

 

“Sorry,” Shun says and sits down next to him. Then he looks at Jun through his huge eyes, reminding Jun of a puppy. He bows deeply. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I didn’t know what to do, and then I made everything worse. I’m sorry.”

 

Jun feels embarrassed by someone bowing so deeply to him. He is afraid that Shun is about to throw himself on the ground, and he really doesn’t want to see that now. “Is your brother safe?” he finally manages to ask, not sure what else to say or how to react.

 

Shun looks up. “His leg is broken pretty badly. And his arm too. But it’s going to be well again. He is recovering.”

 

Jun is shocked for a moment. He hasn’t imagined that Shun’s brother would really get hurt when Shun wouldn’t listen to their request. “They hurt him? After you came back to Sho-kun and told him and the others everything?”

 

Shun stays quiet for a while. “It’s my problem, you know? It was wrong to call such a shady service to begin with. It’s my fault.”

 

“I didn’t know they would make photos and blackmail you,” Jun explains.

 

“I know, you didn’t.” Shun sighs. “As I said: my mistakes.”

 

Jun swallows, not sure if he is ready to forgive Shun yet. He trusted him all the while he was there. He even suspected Nino for a while because he wasn’t sure what’s wrong. He feels embarrassed and mad that a good-looking and somewhat successful guy like Shun paid for his services once. However, he can understand how Shun wanted to protect his brother. “You came back,” Jun says after a while. “It has to count something too. And without you they would have never found me and raided the place. Just next time research better before you buy sex.”

 

Shun grimaces. “I’ll never do that again. It was wrong to begin with.”

 

“What are you going to do now?” Jun wants to know.

 

“I’m not sure,” Shun admits. “Nagase-kun is pretty mad, but he wants to give me a second chance. Although your Sakurai-san told him not to.”

 

Jun’s heart warms at the mention of Sho’s name. “I can handle Sho-kun,” he says. “You have to make your own decisions.”

 

Shun stays quiet for a while. “You are a good person, Jun-san. I hope one day you can really forgive me.”

 

“I think with time I can,” Jun says confidently, not wanting to hold a grudge against anyone anymore. He just wants to move forward. Shun pats his shoulder and leaves, obviously deciding not bother him anymore. Jun looks after him, not sure if he should have been more encouraging or more forgiving, but then he decides he didn’t do that bad. Shun will be alright. He just makes a mental note to himself to send some chocolate and flowers to his poor little brother who is still in hospital, and obviously was pulled into this mess without being at fault at all. “Hey,” he calls after Shun. The latter turns around, surprised. Jun smirks like the little devil he can be sometimes. “They say a police officer earns lots of money. So when you get your next pay check don’t forget to buy me a nice apology-gift.”

 

Shun nods.

 

 

~~~

 

Nino’s eyes are following the auburn haired guy serving the guests at Aiba’s bar. He is wearing a black apron and tight jeans, and overall looks really good. Sometimes he goes to the bar, asking Jun for advice, who is now Aiba’s co-manager.

 

“Is your bar turning into a host club now?” Nino asks towards Aiba.

 

Aiba waves him off. “Please. It just so happens that I attract the pretty guys,” he says smugly.

 

Sho is about to intervene and argue that he actually found Jun, but right at that moment the auburn-haired pretty guy approaches them. “Yuki…” he pauses. “I mean, Jun said that I should bring the dark-haired small guy a tuna sandwich-“ he places it in front of Nino. “And the stunning, hot one – his words, not mine – a tofu salad.” He places it in front of Sho, who can’t help but blush and feel pretty smug at the same time. Stunning and hot, huh? He doesn’t even mind that Nino snorts in amusement, and Aiba giggles.  “And here are the drinks.”

 

“Thank you, Toma-kun,” Aiba chirps. “You are doing well.”

 

Toma’s eyes light up happily. “Thank you so much for this chance, Aiba-san!” he says with emphasis. “I wouldn’t have known what else to do!”

 

Aiba waves him off non-chalantly. “It’s nothing, really. You are doing a good job. And my regular customers love you. You can stay as long as you want.”

 

Toma nods thankfully before going back to work. Meanwhile Ohno nuzzles his nose into Aiba’s neck, making him giggle. When Aiba and Nino leave for a moment to grab themselves a few more drinks, Sho takes the opportunity to ask Ohno for advice. “Satoshi-san,” he says earnestly.

 

“Hm,” Ohno hums. “What is with Jun?”

 

Sho’s eyes widen. “How did you know?”

 

Ohno chuckles helplessly. “Because you are only beating around the bush when it’s him. So, what’s the problem?”

 

“He is… I don’t know…” Sho looks at Jun, who is smiling at some guests, handing them two perfectly mixed mojitos. “He is sweet and all, but he kind of closed up a bit, if that makes sense?”

 

“Makes completely sense,” Ohno answers immediately. Sho feels Ohno’s glance resting on him, before his friend smiles warmly. “This is not because of you, Sho-kun. Jun really loves you. He is just dealing with a lot of stuff at the moment.”

 

“Stuff?”

 

“Yes, like… what is he supposed to do now? Should he study? Work? He probably tries to wrap his mind around what’s happened, and he can’t ignore it anymore, especially since his memory came back.” He nudges Sho with his elbow. “Give him some time. Besides I already told him that my offer is still up, and he can come and have a few therapy sessions with me. It would do him good. He said, he will try.”

 

Sho nods tentatively. Of course, Ohno is right. He should have thought of that himself. For Jun everything is probably really draining at the moment, the past happenings saddening and difficult to forget. He probably feels at a loss. Sho decides to help him through it, simple as that.

 

 

~~~

 

Jun is reading a book in the park. It’s his new favourite spot, and now that he can walk around freely without being in danger anymore, he sometimes comes here even without Sho. It feels weird though, and most of the time he still feels scared to leave their apartment.

 

“Hello, beautiful man! You should be careful not to stay outside for too long, or the sun will get jealous of your beauty.”

 

Jun looks up in equal surprise  at being suddenly approached and amusement at the bad pick-up line. He blushes slightly when he looks directly into Sho’s hazel brown eyes. “Sho-kun?”

 

Sho smiles. “Yes, it’s me.”

 

Jun returns his smile, feeling fuzzy when Sho sits down next to him and touches his arm softly. Then he chuckles lightly. “The sun will get jealous? Really? I thought you were better at picking someone up.”

 

Sho laughs. “I already picked you up,” he jokes. “So, I hope you will accept my bad pick-up lines.”

 

Jun snuggles against Sho’s arm when the latter wraps it around his shoulder.  Of course he won’t mind Sho’s cheesy pick-up line. Sho is his personal hero, his only steady constant in his life, the person who made him open his heart and leave behind his past. Sho could use cheesy pick-up lines daily, and he wouldn’t mind because he loves him so freaking much. “How come you are here so early?” he asks, while trying not to blush at his own thoughts.

 

“My meeting ended early, and I thought I could kidnap you for lunch?”

 

Jun’s chest feels warm immediately at that offer. He takes the hand Sho offers him and nods in agreement.

 

“Where do you want to go?” Sho asks him while he gets up and pulls Jun up with him.

 

“Can we have something at home?” Jun asks carefully. “It’s the most comfortable there, and…well…”

 

Sho chuckles. “Of course.”

 

They walk home together, and Jun’s heart jumps when Sho takes his hand into his, holding it tightly, not minding people looking at them. He is so happy that Sho does things like that – openly claiming Jun as his partner. They stop at their favourite soba restaurant and buy several dishes to bring home. Sho rambles on and on about how he wants to try this or that, but how he also wants to have the usual stuff… and they end up buying way more than they could eat.

 

“We can have the leftovers next week,” Sho states casually. Jun nods, and slowly feels how his melancholic mood from before when he was in the park alone is getting better again.

 

At home Jun mixes them two drinks, while Sho prepares everything on the couch table. Once they settle down on the sofa, Sho insists on feeding Jun the first bite, making him giggle. “You are so silly,” Jun chuckles.

 

Sho smiles. “Made you laugh, finally,” he points out, and Jun looks up at him in surprise.

 

He instantly feels tears prickling his eyes. “Sho… I…” his voice trails off, he just doesn’t know what he should say.

 

“I  know,” Sho says softly, bending forward to kiss his cheeks, and wipe his tears away. “Jun,” Sho says, taking his hand into his, and squeezing it. “Take all the time you need to heal, I know this is difficult for you and you have all the right in the world to take your time and to find your way to move on. I will support you, always, just please promise me you won’t lock me out, okay?”

 

Jun wipes with his arm over his eyes. “I love you so much, Sho-kun. And I want to be stronger than that.”

 

“But you are strong,” Sho urges. “To imagine what you went through and how strong you were. Someone else would have broken down!”

 

“It’ just… I… I mean… I don’t even know why I feel like this… and I…” his voice trails off.

 

Sho offers him some noodles with chili sauce, feeding him casually, like they weren’t having a difficult talk. “Why don’t you tell me how you feel?” he finally offers, his voice soothing and warm.

 

“I don’t even know for sure,” Jun admits quietly. “When I couldn’t remember I was able to live in this bubble, you know? But now…”

 

“Now the bubble is gone,” Sho states, and Jun nods.

 

Sho looks at him for a while, then he puts his chopstick aside and wraps his arm around Jun’s shoulders and pulls him into his arms. Jun feels better almost immediately just by being in his arms. Sho takes Jun’s hand, turning it to face the palm. Then Jun feels Sho’s finger moving over it in one of their old ways to communicate. It’s okay to feel scared. Sho writes. Don’t pressure yourself. I’m here for you. And I love you.

 

Jun’s eyes widen, his heart feeling warm and sad at the same time. He leans into Sho’s arms and lets Sho hug him tightly before he writes on Sho’s palm in return. I love you too.

 

Sho smiles, placing his hand on Jun’s cheek and turning his face to make him look at him. Then he kisses him, and it feels so soft and warm that is swamps Jun with all kind of fuzzy and calming feelings.

 

When they draw apart, Sho looks at him lovingly, before kissing the back of his head. “And now we can gradually help you find the answers you are looking for,” he says and presses a kiss against Jun’s palm. “You’ll see. Soon your fears won’t haunt you anymore. And the bad memories will be replaced by good ones. We’ll try to gather as many good ones as possible. What do you say, my love?”

 

Jun nods under tears.

 

“And we need to find a way to stop you from crying so much,” Sho teases softly. “I don’t want you to get dehydrated.”

 

Jun can’t help a chuckle.

 

“No really,” Sho rambles on. “Nino is going to be mad and scold me when you have to go to a check-up and realizes that you are dehydrated and-“

 

“Okay, I got it,” Jun interrupts him with a laugh, adoring the way his Sho can be so quirky and cute when it’s just the both of them. Something he only shows to Jun. “You are so silly sometimes.” He puts their plates to the side, gets rid of his shirt like it’s the most normal thing to do and opens his arms willingly. “Come,” he says, grinning when he sees how Sho’s eyes get darker. “I know a perfect way to keep me from crying.”

 

Sho follows his wish without hesitation. Of course. He smirks though while he straddles Jun’s hips. “This is actually my way to make you cry~” he says teasingly.

 

Jun blushes at his words. When Sho dives down into his arms, and he feels his body against his, so warm and strong, Jun can’t help but almost cry at how lucky he was to be found by such a guy.

He knows he can achieve everything, and look forward optimistically with Sho at his side. Sho has always giving him the support and protection he needed. He just knows he will be able to leave his past behind one day, with Sho.

A/N: So this is it! Finally the last chapter! Jun will most likely need some time to leave everything behind, but that's understandable isn't it? He has to deal with a lot, and he doesn't even know his right place in society yet. It's probably really confusing. He has Sho though, who understands and supports him (I guess all the time when Jun couldn't talk they learned to communicate really well <3)  and they love each other a lot.
And Toma is working for Aiba now  :D  Shun might get a second chance... but that's not part of this story ;-) 

Thanks so much to all of you who followed this story! I hope you like this last chapter! <3

I'm already wondering what to work on next. I have my Princes-story of course ;-)  but I'm also considering posting a shorter multi-chapter... Maybe a Matsumiya one? Or should it be Sakumoto again? :-)