Sukisho Fan Fiction ❯ 10 years ❯ Chapter 10 ( Chapter 10 )

10 years

 

By Sapadu

 

A/N: I'm sorry the chapters are getting shorter, but... I don't have as much time, nor do I trust myself to make them too long. But, still, thanks for holding on, those of you who are sticking with me through this.

 

I don't got it, I swear! You've got the wrong girl, officer!

 

Sunao awoke to hear his phone ringing. With a groan, dreading who it might be, he answered.

 

“Ohayo.” The polite voice on the other end said, and immediately, Fujimori Sunao could have sworn he'd heard some sort of God laughing at him, “Is your investigation going well?”

 

Sunao grit his teeth and answered as best he could.

 

“I have been investigating to the best of my ability, but it has yielded no results.” He replied. The voice on the other end chuckled.

 

“I thought not. In any case, I'll be coming by sometime in the next week to be sure your residence is suitable. Be sure to let the landlord know I'm coming in advance, this time.”

 

Then they both hung up. Sunao stayed where he was for a moment, staring miserably into space before he stood up, still not quite ready to face the day.

 

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“Matsuri-chan, you never mentioned that you work at an animal shelter...” Nakou said as they both spotted the office within sight. Matsuri laughed and rubbed the back of his head, embarrassedly.

 

“...Well, I guess it never occurred to me that anyone would be interested.” He offered, as Nakou joined his chuckles before excusing herself to leave for her own office.

 

“I'll tell Nao-kun you send your regards!” She called, turning the corner. Matsuri sighed and readied himself for another day. As lunch came around, Matsuri had to give himself a minute to pump up for the lecture he was going to give Sora- an identical one which Nakou was going to give to Sunao at about the same time.

 

His energy was sapped as soon as he heard Sora's story about how he'd left his apartment that morning to find the name on his mailbox had been removed.

 

“...Wait, you think someone did this on purpose?” Matsuri asked, more shocked that someone would do it than that Sora was thinking along those lines.

 

“I just want to know WHY- I can't figure out who would bother to slide out a card that reads 'Hashiba Sora' from behind a nameplate cover, or what their purpose would be...” Sora explained, before Nakou came over.

 

“Nakou-chan, I thought you were going to be eating with Nao-kun...” Matsuri said, with surprise. Nakou sighed as she sat down, pouting.

 

“Apparently, he can't take his lunch break today because of something he's working on- but he'll be off tonight, so I fully plan on giving him a talk-to over dinner!” She said, folding her arms.

 

Matsuri sighed.

 

“Strange things have been happening for all of us, huh?” He mumbled, and when Nakou asked what he meant, Matsuri explained what Sora had just told him.

 

Nakou just frowned.

 

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“Perhaps a janitor needed to clean the nameplates and it accidentally got wet while he was cleaning.” Nanami suggested after dinner. Sora had told both his surrogate parents the situation, and exactly why it was bothering him, so was expecting the calming, logical, and somewhat plausible explanation Nanami could give, and the calculating look that Shinichirou was giving him.

 

After a moment, though, he said something which Sora hadn't expected, just as Sora was walking out the door.

 

“Sora... is it possible that Sunao had something to do with it?” Sora froze in the doorway, but waved over his shoulder and left.

 

“Muri na...” Sora left, though wondering if maybe, just maybe, Fujimori HAD had something to do with it...

 

As soon as the door closed behind him, a fight started.

 

“You still suspect Fujimori-kun of something...” Nanami muttered, with a frown, and his voice implying a kind of 'how-dare-you' tone. Shinichirou glared back, before replying.

 

“You said it yourself- It's as though everything is repeating, all over again. If that's really what's happening, we can't trust Sunao.” He said, firmly. Nanami's frown deepened.

 

“Fujimori-kun hasn't done anything to earn our distrust- for all we know, everything that's been happening could just be pure coincidence.” Nanami protested, “Ryouya-san and I used to work for Aizawa, too, or do you suspect me, as well?”

 

Shinichirou spun and grabbed Nanami by his upper arms, pushing him against the wall.

 

“Don't you ever say that- You KNOW that has nothing to do with it, and you also know damn well that I don't blame anyone for anything that Aizawa did. But he's DEAD, and things are still happening that we don't understand.” Shinichirou was shouting at this point, Nanami flinching away at every word.

 

“So, Fujimori-kun is your scapegoat? Because you don't understand anything that's been happening?” Nanami demanded, cringing as Shinichirou's grip on his arm tightened.

 

“That's not it- it's because he was the one who drove the events last time, and this time, events are also being propelled forward by his presence. It's the only logical connection I can make, or is there something you're not telling me?” Shinichirou squeezed Nanami's arm tighter, an unspoken 'Like you did last time' hanging in the air, before Nanami made a noise of pain.

 

“Shinichirou, yamete!” Nanami pushed Shinichirou away, just enough that Shinichirou released his arms and they both stared at each other for a moment, before Nanami ducked around his lover, picked up his shoes, and ran out.

 

Shinichirou stood alone, staring at the wall.

 

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“I'm sorry for always putting you off, Nakou-chan- things are just going to be busy because we lost a lot of days to repair from the monsoon.” Sunao apologized over a nice restaurant dinner- in his case, a traditional bowl of oden, while Nakou used her chopsticks to wave it away.

 

“Daijobu, daijoubu... It's not your fault that whoever schedules your hours is inconsiderate.” She replied with a wink. Sunao laughed with relief, before Nakou finally started talking again.

 

“...Nao-kun... I was just thinking...” Nakou said, and Sunao resisted the urge to make the obligatory crack about how it could never be a good sign, “I saw that you carried around pictures in your wallet, like any other respectable gentleman...”

 

Sunao sighed.

 

“Don't worry, Nakou-chan- your lovely face is among those pictures...” He said, with a bit of a joking smile, as he had a feeling she was going to start lecturing him about why he didn't have Hashiba's picture as one of those.

 

Nakou tilted her head to the side, then giggled, in a faux embarrassed voice.

 

“Lovely? Nao-kun... don't flatter me.” She teased, before reverting back to being serious, as only she (or Matsuri or, perhaps even, Shinichirou) could manage, “What I was wondering about was why none of them are of any of your friends.”

 

Sunao blinked, taken aback.

 

“Obviously, I knew you weren't about to carry a picture of Sora around, since you're acting like he's just a nuisance, but you don't even have a picture of Matsuri-chan, or Nanami-san or Shinichirou-san in there. Not even one of the three of you on your graduation day.” Nakou elaborated, “Really, the only picture you have in there is of me, and I KNOW that's just for a respectable appearance.”

 

Sunao stared at his fiancé for a moment, Nakou holding his gaze with a small smile, before he looked down.

 

“S-Sore wa...” He mumbled, not finishing his sentence as he tried to find a good reason, coming up with none.

 

His phone started to vibrate, where it was placed next to his plate at the table. Both he and Nakou looked at it.

 

“It's probably something important from work- It's okay.” Nakou said, looking out the window as Sunao picked it up. Indeed, the caller ID read 'Caller Unknown' as it always did when it was someone calling from the offices.

 

Sunao stared at it for a moment, as Nakou raised an eyebrow, watching him.

 

“Nao-kun, aren't you going to answer it?” She asked, somehow managing to be neither bossy, nor intrusive.

 

Sunao didn't say a word as he hit the button which silenced the buzzing and turned his phone off completely.

 

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It was late in the day when Hashiba Sei received a phone call in the office. Someone on the other end was a voice he didn't recognize with a simple request.

 

“Moshi moshi, Jack of All Trades Inc, how may I help you?” He asked, voice wearing from the long day.

 

“I simply had a question- Does the corporation have a message delivery section?” The other person asked. Sei raised an eyebrow, but answered the question.

 

“Yes, sir- we offer message deliveries as one of our services...” Sei replied, politely, and then added, as Kitamura mouthed to him, “At a fraction of the cost of private messengers, or delivery boys.”

 

“Arigatou gozimasu. In that case, I would like a message delivered, to this address...” The person listed the address, and Sei recognized it as the address next to Sora-niichan's apartment... which meant it was intended for Sunao-niichan...

 

“Please tell him that a supervisor at work, whom has been having considerable difficulty contacting him, would like to speak with him in person at nine o'clock at the building he works in. And, above all else, please deliver this message in person, to be sure he receives it.” The person asked. Sei frowned, but, a job was a job... and if this person really hadn't been able to contact Sunao-niichan, that would explain why he was asking this of a service.

 

“Hai- I will do that.”

 

As he reached the apartment to deliver the message, Sei finally saw Sunao-niichan coming up the hallway. After a moment of blinking, Sei walked over and delivered the message.

 

He was surprised to see Sunao-niichan grimace.

 

“I'm sure it's nothing serious- the person who asked me to deliver the message said he was just having trouble getting a hold of you so...” Sei said, in his best reassuring voice.

 

Sunao-niichan gave him a long look before smiling a little.

 

“It's nothing like that- I just worry about being out so late is all.” And Sunao-niichan went into his own apartment.

 

Sei stared after him, with a distinct feeling that Sunao-niichan had just lied to him.

 

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It was precisely because he was worried that Sei followed Sunao to where he was supposed to meet with his supervisor. He even took careful steps to be sure he stayed hidden the whole time, hiding behind a bush as Sunao stopped. Sei listened carefully and heard the same voice over as from over the phone speaking with him.

 

“I don't appreciate being hung up on. There are important matters to discuss these days.” The other person was saying. Sunao replied in a similar tone of voice.

 

“I was having dinner with my fiancé- you shouldn't have interrupted.” Sei tried to peer through the bushes to see the other person, but couldn't get a clear image.

 

“Perhaps you would care to explain what you were doing at dinner with your fiancé when your search these past ten years has still failed to yield results.” The other man seemed to be asking, but Sei knew better- it was no question. Sunao's voice grew aggravated.

 

“It's not my fault that I haven't seen Hashiba for ten years- I've been looking as best I could.” He replied, as the other person snickered.

 

“I heard that you and Hashiba Sora were involved after the last incident- are you hiding something out of some old affection for him?” He asked, and Sunao snarled.

 

“I only tolerated Hashiba as an acquaintance- don't confuse that with actual affection.” He snapped, before calming enough to speak a little more clearly, “In any case, Hashiba gave up Yoru- even if I did find him, he would be useless as a specimen.”

 

Sei felt a shiver run up his spine at the sound of that word. As a child, he would have mistaken that to mean something floating in a tank like in some sci-fi movie, but now, it seemed even more frightening to think that Sora would be experimented on by anybody...

 

And why Sunao was lying...?

 

“I need to go- the landlady locks the doors soon.” And Sunao left.

 

The minute that Sunao was out of sight, Sei looked back for the second person, but again saw no one, and then took off at a run.

 

He didn't look back as he heard footsteps coming after him at a much quicker pace.

 

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Ren Shiina moodily snatched up the phone as it rang- it had almost been time to close the office, and, of course, the phone would ring just then. Still he made his voice business appropriate.

 

“Moshi moshi, Jack of...” He paused as the person on the other end panted heavily, swearing to hang up if it was a crank call.

 

“Shiina... Sora-niichan...” Shiina's eyes went wide as he heard Sei's voice, which was sounding as though he was running from something... or someone.

 

“Sei? Sei, nani...?” Shiina demanded, standing up in a panic.

 

“Warn Sora-niichan... warn him that he's in danger...” Sei managed, before there was a noise on the other end of the line- Sei had probably called from a phone booth, and it sounded like something had made him drop the phone and let it bang against the wall.

 

“WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO SORA-SENPAI?” Shiina called, but received no answer, “SEI? SEI!”

 

There was a click, and then the line started to beep.

 

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Sunao sighed as he reached the lobby of the apartment complex- the landlady had already locked it, so now he'd have to wait for someone to come and open it from within to let him in.

 

“Nao-kun, you're late.” Sunao snapped around to see Matsuri standing right behind him, as though he'd been waiting for some time.

 

“Matsuri-chan...” He stammered.

 

Matsuri blinked for a moment, before he smiled.

 

“We were waiting for you.” He said. Sunao raised an eyebrow.

 

“Dare ka 'Boku-tachi'?”

 

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“Why did you keep me up this late?” Sora groused, until he saw Sunao right behind Matsuri as he let the two of them into the complex. Both the former roommates were glaring at Matsuri, whom was grinning as though it had no effect on him.

 

After a moment, however, his smile faltered a little, and Matsuri- much to the surprise of the other two- actually bowed and clapped his hands together.

 

“Jistu wa... boku...” He began, in an embarrassed tone, “I lost something... and I need you two to help me find it...” Matsuri pleaded. Sora and Sunao stared at him, first amazed that he'd actually come to them asking for help- let alone in THIS kind of manner- then suspicious.

 

“Gomen, Matsuri-chan, ore.... I can't do this, even to help you out.” Sunao said, somehow apologizing and sounding irritated at the same time.

 

“Sou da- Fujimori has to be up at five so he can get to work.” Sora added. Sunao shot Sora a little glare, as though he could sense the ulterior motive behind Sora's defense of him (i.e: That Sora wouldn't have to go out, either.)

 

“Daijobu- Nakou-chan said she'd schedule an interview for the two of you tomorrow at a reasonable hour of the morning, so that will give you the day off, Nao-kun.” Matsuri's way-too-cheerful smile was back.

 

Both Sora and Sunao sighed.

 

“I can stay here to open the doors for you two if that's what you're worried about. And since this isn't where I live, I won't doze off or leave and stand you two up.” Matsuri added, as though reading their minds to any further doubts.

 

'Yappari.' They both thought.

 

“The first place I'd check would be the coffee shop- I go there the most, after all...” Matsuri continued, ignoring the looks on his friends faces, before Sora interrupted.

 

“Oi, matte ou- why are WE going on this?” He demanded. Matsuri made an innocent face.

 

“...Well, if you'd rather I call Shinichirou-san or a retrieval service and have my money go to THEM and not YOU for this...” The blond said, innocently. Sora's attitude changed.

 

“Which coffee shop?”

 

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“Suddenly, I have the feeling we're being had.” Sora muttered as he and Sunao reached the address Matsuri had given them, only to spot a little Matsuri-looking plushie hanging from the sign over the door. Sora had to give Sunao a boost and let the other man- who, technically, weighed the least out of the two of them- sit on his shoulder as he retrieved the plushie.

 

“There's a note and something that looks like a piece of a photo...” Sunao mused, suddenly grabbing onto Sora's head as he wobbled.

 

“Fujimori, would you get down if you're finished!?” Sora shouted. Quickly, they read the note and set off for the next location- the fountain at the park.

 

In the end, Sora waded through the fountain towards the little doll hanging on the centerpiece, only to get drenched and nearly pushed under as the spigots motion activated.

 

Sunao read the note as Sora coughed and tried to get dry.

 

“It says 'Check the jungle gym at the elementary school'...” Sunao read, nonplussed. Sora snatched the note out of Sunao's hand and tore it up with frustration. Sunao, for once, didn't blame him, as he knew how far away the elementary school was.

 

At the school:

 

“Ha-SHI-ba! Let it go already!” Sunao called from his position halfway up the gym as Sora dangled from the topmost bar- who the hell built jungle gyms like THIS for LITTLE KIDS, anyway?- inching towards the doll that was hanging from a cross piece that kept the whole thing supported.

 

“Dame! I've almost got it and hell if I'm giving up now!” Sora shouted back, almost as though saying 'Don't tell me what to do.'

 

Sora finally got close enough to snatch the doll.

 

And lost his grip, falling.

 

“Hashiba!” Sunao's hand shot out, catching hold of Sora's. Then, both of them were promptly dragged down to the ground, hitting it face first.

 

“...Oops...” Sunao mumbled into the dirt, before they both sat up. Sora just growled and irritably put together the pieces of the picture that had been left with the dolls to see exactly what was so important for them to go through all this.

 

And immediately went red.

 

Sunao leaned over his shoulder and also proceeded to blush.

 

The assembled photograph was one of them, still in high school, sitting together outside one of the trees at the school. Sora's arm was around Sunao's shoulders and they were both waving and smiling for the camera, though their smiles seemed as though they'd simply been humoring the photographer- probably Matsuri.

 

Sora read the final note.

 

“I hope when you two come back, you will bring back with you my two best friends who I miss so much.” He read, voice going from loud to soft as he seemed to realize how serious it was.

 

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“I guess that no matter what we do, Matsuri will always be worried about us, won't he?” Sora mumbled, bashfully as they treaded back to their apartment. Sunao laughed a little at that.

 

“'Kedo... It was also kind of our fault... we should have known from the start that Matsuri-tachi were all worried about us... We're not the only ones affected by whenever we have problems...” Sora muttered, seriously. Sunao glanced away, guiltily.

 

“Ore mou...” He mumbled, drawing Sora's gaze, “Nakou-chan told me... the same thing after they pulled that Kaitou prank on us... we really have been... selfish...” Sunao was staring at the ground, and Sora just looked at him with a very blank expression for a moment.

 

“Fujimori...”

 

Sunao looked up and met Sora's gaze, which they both quickly broke.

 

“Ja... if we come back holding hands, that should make Matsuri stop worrying for the night... at least he'll go home, na?” He finally said, with a kind of false cheer as he extended a hand.

 

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