Title: Kibou no Takara

Author: Andy-chan (antimiya88)

Pairings: Sakuraiba (main) / Ohmiya (mentioned)

Genre: AU, Romance, Slice of life

Rating: PG13

Summary: Sakurai Sho is a famous rapper who ends up in a special clinic for his 'boosts of fun', as he calls them. There, he meets Aiba Masaki, a former backsetball player whose career ended after a car accident. The latter seems to be very distant. At first, Sho doesn't pay attention but the more time passes, the more he finds himself intrigued by him. There's a familiar aura... as if they both can't find a reason in their lives. Could it be that this encounter will help them find a reason together?

Disclaimer: I don't own Sakuraiba, they own me.

Masaki was looking at his idol in the mirror, his eyes locked on his lips… red and swollen. It had been more than a year since he had felt someone else’s lips on his. His mind had stopped working. He hadn’t said anything… he had left the room as soon as the other broke the kiss.

Sho had told him words he wished he could believe but how could it be possible? They hadn’t known each other more than a day… He didn’t believe that someone would fall in love with him this fast, love at first sight didn’t exist… or more correctly, he didn’t believe that someone would fall in love with him in general. He was nothing more than a disabled person… a half… as he had been reminded a lot in the past.

---

“Babe, you woke up!”

Masaki tried to focus, smiling when he realized the one who had spoken was his boyfriend.

“Hiro...”

“It’s been a week since the accident… you got me scared!”

“Sorry…” Masaki whispered as he tried to find Hiro’s hand.

The other seemed to get the message and leaned closer taking his hand in his. “It was that bastard’s fault not yours… Because he was pissed off for having lost and got kicked out of his team, he decided to-” Hiro stopped talking as he saw the door opening and a group of doctors entering inside.

“The nurses informed us that you were awake, Aiba-san. How are you feeling?” the older one said as he came closer to check on Masaki.

Hiro moved aside without saying a word.

“Everything looks fine… Do you feel pain anywhere?”

Masaki shook his head. “No… is that… normal? I mean… wasn’t I supposed to-”

“There’s something you should know… and I’m glad Arimoto-san is also here…” the doctor said in a lower voice, making both young men frown. “When the car threw you against the wall, you injured the lower part of your waist… If it was two centimeters higher, we would have the chance to operate it…”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Hiro hissed walking towards the doctor, angry.

“I know it will be a shock but unfortunately, Aiba-san won’t be able to walk again…”

Masaki felt all the air escaping from his lungs leaving him breathless. It was just a bad joke… it had to be one… he was only 25… he had his career… he was the upcoming star of basketball… he couldn’t be stuck on a wheelchair, could he? Tears had blurred his eyesight, his mind stopping working. He could hear Hiro’s loud voice, the doctors’, others’… but understood nothing. All he could hear again and again were the doctor’s words. He would never be able to run in the court again… he would never be able to reach his dream…

After a while he was left alone with his boyfriend in the room. He didn’t say anything. He couldn’t… The other was looking at his legs with a frown. Masaki wanted him to say something… anything but the other remained silent till his phone rang.

“It’s my boss…” he mumbled to Masaki without turning his gaze towards him. “I must go… I’ll come again tomorrow…”

“Ok…” Masaki whispered with a sad smile. He hadn’t kiss him goodbye… he hadn’t looked at him… not even called his name…

The following day came and the one after it but Hiro hadn’t showed up. Masaki tried to convince himself that the other was busy… He had probably remained by his side the week he had been unconscious, so it was natural to be in need to cover it. He was in the rehabilitation center of the hospital, trying to learn to live the way he was now but no matter how much he tried he would still not know how to support himself. He knew it required time… but no matter how much time would pass by, his legs would remain useless.

A couple of weeks later, he was doing much better. He was helped back on his wheelchair when he felt someone staring at him. He knew it was Hiro… but why wouldn’t he come and talk to him? He turned his head a bit, so that the other couldn’t see him and saw his facial expression… that expression that showed all the disgust towards him. He felt his heart ripped into hundreds of pieces. It wasn’t that he hadn’t feared it… but to actually see it was different.

“Aiba-san, is that him?” the nurse who had helped Masaki sit back on his wheelchair said causing him to get stiff.

Masaki nodded, not knowing what else he was supposed to say. The other was speaking on the phone having turned his back on them.

“You may go to the garden, it’s a nice day!” she continued, smiling at him.

Masaki took a deep breath and pushed his wheelchair forwards. He was a few centimeters behind his boyfriend.

“I don’t know what the hell, I’m supposed to do! I don’t mean that, you, clever boy! What I meant is how I will leave him without looking like a dick! I’m in the hospital you should have seen him… half… pitiful… I was with him because he was sexy and beautiful and very good in bed!” he laughed. “Of course the money was a plus! But now what?! His legs are useless… He won’t even be a good fuck anymore!”

Masaki was biting his lower lip in an attempt not to cry. He didn’t want to cry. What for? For someone he loved but had proved to be nothing more than a jerk?! Even though it hurt, he knew it wasn’t really worth it.

Hiro had ended his call and turned around freezing when he found Masaki behind him. “Hey…” he said with some difficulty.

“Hey…” Masaki replied in a whisper. They remained silent for a while. “How is work?” he asked trying to break the ice. He smiled bitterly. It felt indeed as if he was talking to a stranger.

“The way it was…” his boyfriend replied in a cold tone.

“You didn’t come…” Masaki whispered again, his head lowered.

“I was busy, I can’t lose my job!” Hiro said sounding annoyed. “And how is this thing here going?”

“Ok… I guess…”

“Nothing new?”

Masaki gulped. “If you’re asking whether I’ll be able to walk again or not, the answer remains the same… I’m sorry…”

“Damn…” the other cursed but Masaki knew it wasn’t because he was sad for him…

“There’s something I want to tell you…”

Hiro frowned. “What?”

Masaki turned his wheelchair the other way around so that his boyfriend couldn’t see his face. “I don’t want you to come here anymore”

“You… What?”

“We’re over… Isn’t that what you want?”

“Well… I have a certain lifestyle…” Hiro said not having a single trace of qualms.

“I know…” Masaki moved a bit further. “But you should know something. I might have been a good fuck for you but I can’t say the same thing for you… Good bye, Hiro” and with that left for his room.

He closed the door and went towards the sky. When he was younger, he stared at it wanting to reach it… now, he only wondered why he had thought it was so important… it was nothing but air… like the emptiness he felt inside at the moment.

It was yesterday that his mother had called him, telling him that it would be impossible to visit him. Of course, it would be… It was her daughter’s tennis tournament… he was nothing but a reminder of the life with an asshole as he had heard her countless times calling his father; someone he had never met in his life.

Today, it was Hiro… He remained at the same position, not paying attention to the nurse who came inside with his lunch. His eyes were still locked outside… Everyone had left him… Perhaps they always had but he refused to really see it. Perhaps it was only now that he realized the sky he so loved was nothing but air…

A month later he was able to go back home. There he would spend most of the time in his bed. It wasn’t that he had many choices anymore. Hiro had already taken his things along with some others of a certain value. Masaki didn’t care… What’s the point of being passionate? What’s the point of having emotions? It would only bring pain… so he chose not to care anymore.

Slowly, he wouldn’t sleep… he would eat as much as he liked… some days passing by without eating anything. Sleeping pills started becoming his favorite friends but soon they weren’t enough… he needed more to sleep…to become numb… but then there were times that people would speak behind his back. Pity. It was the only thing he hated. His life might have turned into hell but no one had the right to pity him. Did they really think that just because he couldn’t walk anymore, he couldn’t listen too?! He was pissed off… He had always been the guy who would always smile. This guy belonged to the past…

Since then, he had been to clinic, he continued his road to emptiness…

---

Then again, there he was trying to understand what was Sakurai Sho’s game… because it should have been a game… yet he couldn’t lie to himself. He had enjoyed the kiss… it had felt as if his body had been awakened after a long sleep… and to his surprise, it felt, as if it was asking to feel again.

“You should never doubt yourself. Even if it seems wrong…”

Masaki frowned and turned his head towards the source of the voice, startled to find his appointed doctor, Matsumoto Jun, standing a few meters away.

“You have no idea of what I might be thinking…”

“No, I don’t” the head shook his head negatively. “But I can see that there’s something you’re torn about. Don’t judge yourself… Our mind follows our decisions, our body follows its own and when these decisions seem to contradict the ones we’ve decided upon, we should reconsider them… perhaps somewhere we might see that we have been wrong… or we might get the proof that we’ve been right… but no matter what we should never lie to ourselves”

Masaki had been left with his mouth open. What do you know? Without saying anything else, he turned the other way around to leave.

“Aiba-san, don’t bury things underneath the carpet, face them…” the doctor’s voice was heard again, making Masaki stop.

“In order to face things, you must believe in them. There’s no point, if you already know that it is a lost case; an illusion… even worse… a game…”  he mumbled before he could stop himself.

“How can you be so sure of that?” the other asked him coming closer, till he was standing in front of Masaki. “As humans we only have a single way to view at things. You look at them through your perspective which is unique, I see them through mine, Ninomiya-sensei through his, Ohno-sensei through his, Sakurai Sho also through his…”

At the hearing of Sho’s name Masaki gasped but the doctor didn’t seem to notice. His hands were grabbing his sweatpants with so much force that his knuckles had turned white.

“That means you can’t judge things through only one perspective. It is clear that you have doubts about whatever it is troubling you… So, go and clear things up… ask for another perspective…”

“But even if I do…” Masaki managed to whisper avoiding to look at the man in front of him. “It wouldn’t matter. It’s a closed case…”

“Your life?”

“Yes…” Masaki lowered his gaze at his lap.

“I don’t agree and you don’t agree either…” Masaki was about to speak but the doctor raised his hand in the air as a sign to remain hushed. “If you did, you wouldn’t have remained here… you’d have escaped the moment you’d find the first chance to and secondly, you wouldn’t be in doubt right now… I’ll see you tomorrow, Aiba-san”

Masaki felt his heart pounding crazily in his chest, Matsumoto Jun’s words keeping replaying in his mind. He went to his room and opened the door soundlessly. Sho was nowhere to be seen. Sighing he closed the door behind him and was ready to go to his favorite spot by the window when he heard something that sounded like a muffled cry from the bathroom.

Sakurai? Frowning he pushed his wheelchair to the door. He could hear water falling… The other was taking a bath. But then… the muffled cry reached his ears again. He slowly opened the door and saw the other sitting in the bathtub and water, Masaki supposed it was cold due to the lack of steams, falling on him. He had his eyes closed tightly and his hands clenched into fists, on his knees.

“Sakura-”

The other immediately turned his head to him, a smile appearing on his lips chasing the gloominess away. “You want the bathroom or that was just an excuse to come and see me naked?” Masaki involuntarily blushed, making Sho smile softly. “I’ll be out in a second…” Sho continued sounding serious but warm.

Masaki nodded before going back in the room to wait. He heard the bathroom door opening after a while and felt Sho standing right behind him.

“You miss it, don’t you?” he mumbled before he could stop himself.

“I’d lie if I said I didn’t…” Sho admitted in a weak voice.

Masaki sighed. He could recognize the truth in Sho’s words. “I’m fucked up… you’re fucked up… how can you say that we can find a dream together? We would never be able to-”

“Perhaps because we’re both fucked up, as you say…” Sho whispered kneeling behind Masaki, wrapping his hands around his neck.

“I’m afraid to feel again…”

“I’m afraid as well but if we have each other, then probably we might ease our fears… Just looking at your beautiful face is enough…”

“Don’t you think I’m a half?” Masaki asked what he was afraid to.

“Half?!” Sho asked sounding clearly annoyed. “Was it your ex the one who said so?”

Masaki could only nod.

Sho stood up and went to kneel right in front of Masaki, resting his hands on the latter’s legs, making sure their eyes met.

“That’s bullshit… All I see is a man who has all the potential to be killer-sexy and if I judge from the way you responded to my kiss earlier, I bet you’re a passionate lover too…”

“So, you want me for sex…”

“No, I want you for you. From the moment, I grabbed your shirt collar, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Love at first sight… Who would have believed it but it happened… and I know that you like me, as well! Your eyes have betrayed you… I can’t deny though that sex is an entertaining bonus!” Sho added playfully and winked at Masaki who giggled, even if it lasted for a mere second. “And your laugh is amazing… I guess I found what I should get addicted to!”

“But-”

“Shut up and kiss me” Sho growled and locked their lips together. This time Masaki didn’t start questioning things. He wrapped his hands around Sho’s neck bringing him closer.

It wasn’t till they heard someone clearing their throat discreetly that they broke the kiss.

“I’m sorry for interrupting. Your food is here…” it was the same nurse as the previous day. She placed the two trays carefully on each one’s bed and left with a small bow.

Sho led Masaki to his bed. “Climb up, we’re eating together!”

Masaki knew that denying would lead nowhere. He found himself on Sho’s bed with the other sitting next to him.

“Meat?! Finally, some real food!” Sho mumbled to himself as he took his chopsticks in hand. “And no, I’m not having your food!”

Masaki saw the way the other put a large portion of food in his mouth growling with bliss. He looked at his tray and took the chopsticks in hand. He didn’t feel hungry but now that he was relaxed, he could tell the smell was pretty good. He tasted some of the meat and moaned delightful.

“Don’t forget about dessert” Sho whispered in his ear, making him frown. There was no dessert accompanying their dinner. “We can always continue from where we stopped, now eat!”

Masaki smiled and put some of the rice in his mouth, not knowing how to handle himself at the moment... after so many months he felt alive again and it was strange but not as bad as he had always thought.

***

“That’s an interesting scene…”

Sho raised his eyes from the notebook he had on his lap, seeing the small figured doctor coming closer. He tried to close it but to his surprise, the other didn’t ask to see it. He sat next to him throwing his hands up in the air.

“Damn it, being seated on a chair for so long makes my back hurt…”

Sho raised his eyebrow. “I still don’t get it how you are a doctor!”

“I told you I’m unique!” Nino replied with a small wink.

“Whatever…” Sho whispered, rolling his eyes.

“I don’t recognize you…”

“Cut the crap, doc. It’s not like I had such a-”

“You wouldn’t leave your room, you would avoid the garden because you simply didn’t want to meet other patients, you wouldn’t-”

“Fine! Got your message! Perhaps you would consider to let me go, then?!”

“Are these lyrics?” Nino asked avoiding Sho’s question.

“It’s a secret!”

“Stubborn!”

“You sure you are a doc?”

Nino muffled a laugh. “Ok… I take it back. Perhaps you haven’t changed as much as I thought at first but you’ve definitely made progress and from what my chubby said yesterday you and Aiba-san are the ones who have improved the most at the group sessions”

“That’s how you pass your evenings?!” Sho asked amused. “By giving report over the patients? How interesting!”

“Oh… you wished! That’s how we pass our lunch time in the clinic… Believe me we have way more interesting things to do in the evenings and no” he added fast “you’re not allowed to do them as long as you are here!”

“I…”

“I know that you are all lovey-dovey with Aiba-san, I’m not blind and certainly so isn’t Ayaka-san who comes to my office with a huge blush on her face after she has given you your dinner every night… And I don’t mind kisses but for the rest you should wait till you get out of here…”

“And when will that be?”

“That… That’s a secret!” Nino said in a teasing tone smiling when he caught the way Sho was staring at him.

“They’re lyrics…” Sho whispered knowing that the doctor had won.

“Our clinic can be so inspiring… Who would have thought?!”

“Yeah, you wished…”

“So, it’s Aiba-san…”

“Maybe…” Nino raised his eyebrow making Sho sigh. “Fine it is him… Happy now?”

“Yes! By admitting your feelings, you come closer to accept yourself… and by accepting yourself, you realize your mistakes… and by realizing your mistakes you have the chance to correct them and move on!”

“You’re weird…”

“Maybe… but that’s not why I was looking for you. Do you have a minute?”

Sho looked at the other with a frown. “What for?”

“Don’t be stubborn and follow me!”

Sho stood up reluctantly and followed the doctor towards the gym that was located at the second building. To his surprise, he found his… boyfriend? He still wasn’t sure if he could call Masaki like that even though he was dying to.

He was sure that Masaki had told him he had a session with Matsumoto Jun but from what it seemed he hadn’t. The gym was empty except for Masaki and the responsible one.

Why would he need to…? He felt Nino’s hand grabbing his shoulder.

“Perhaps this will be an even better inspiration for you!” he winked at him and left.

Sho was left watching Masaki trying to lift the weight with his hands trembling. He could see the struggle in the other’s face, covered as it was with sweat but he could swear that he also saw a fire he hadn’t met before in Masaki’s eyes… a fire that proved passion… life… Sho’s lips curved into a smile. Masaki was fighting back… the way he did… even if he had kept it a secret…

“That’s enough for today, Aiba-san… Don’t overstrain your muscles. Follow the program I prepared for you and everything will go well”

“You think that I will be able to try for the new season?” Masaki asked eagerness hiding in his voice.

“I think there’s a high chance you will!”

The smile Sho saw was enough to make his heart flutter. He had meant it when he had said that it was addictive. The more he saw it, the more he wanted to continue seeing it.

Masaki was now back on his wheelchair with the help of the gym responsible. “Aiba-san, I am really happy you decided to try playing again”

Sho couldn’t believe his ears. He leaned against the door closing his eyes. Masaki wanted to play basketball again… He had kept his promise… and if he had kept his promise then it meant that…

---

4 days ago…

“I always loved music… I wasn’t the biggest talent in guitar or piano but I was pretty good with rhymes… I guess it was my way to talk about things as I’d never have the chance to do so in my family… My father was strict and cold and my mother submissive to his words… Even if she was there, it meant nothing…”

Masaki moved with the help of his hands closer to Sho who instinctively hugged him tighter as they were both lying on his bed looking at the dark sky outside.

“I guess he didn’t approve your job then…”

Sho muffled a laugh. “Approve…! They were nowhere to approve. I was living by myself since I was seventeen…  not that they cared… It was after my graduation that I was scouted at one of the clubs I was having guest appearances…”

“Why did you start…” Masaki stopped not knowing if he had the right to ask Sho this or not.

“With alcohol and drugs?” Sho said in a carefree tone, despite the bitterness that was hiding underneath. “Let’s say that you start with a dream, you believe in people and they prove to be fake… everything is about rules, a certain image… You get tired… but being afraid to let go because it feels you go back to zero… I guess the word for it is cowardice…”

Masaki looked at his side, his eyes meeting with Sho’s. “I don’t think it’s cowardice… If someone is coward, that’s me…”

“You?!” Sho caressed Masaki’s hair softly before securing the latter’s head in the crook of his neck. “You were a shining star… stars are never cowards… but… tell me, how did you start with basketball?”

Masaki closed his eyes tightly, sighing. “The first time I ever held a basketball was when I was five. It was a present from my mother... the first and the last one I ever got… and even if I couldn’t throw it properly back then, I knew I had fallen in love… I’m not sure if it was because that ball was a gift from my mother… Perhaps I wanted to show her that I really was devoted to her… in my childish mind, I thought that I could prove that by keep playing with the ball she had given to me… stupid I know… Or it could be that I simply wanted a part of her by my side… I can’t-”

“Don’t say that again. Your thought might be simple but it was right… She’s the one who was wrong and stupid” Sho cut the other off. “Bothering yourself like that doesn’t lead anywhere… only to…” he stopped, gasping at the realization of his words.

“I know that, Sho. She’s a bitch. By the age of eleven, I was calling her mentally like that. She had lost the place of a mother” Masaki said quickly not wanting to bring the other to tears. “As soon as I entered school, I started playing in a team. In every game, I was feeling alive and that feeling never faded away… I would dare to say it only grew stronger… my dream was to reach the top… and I was doing it until…” Masaki’s voice turned lower till it cracked and a sob found its way to his throat.

“I think I understand now… When you stopped playing, you stopped being alive as well… You simply gave up…” Sho muttered in a whisper.

“Maybe…” Masaki admitted closing his eyes tightly.

“Why don’t you try it again?”

“What?”

Sho moved a bit so that he could look at the other’s eyes. “There’s a way for you to play, even if it isn’t regular basketball… there’s still a way…” he caressed Masaki’s cheek. “Your dream is out there…”

He could feel that Masaki had stiffened against him.

“It would be great… You would move up and down in the court once again and I’d have the chance to see you where you shine the most… now you’d have the opportunity to have someone looking at you and only you…”

“You just-”

“Promise me that if you believe in us, even if it is a tiny bit, you’d go and try it. You… you don’t have to say anything right now… or never, if you don’t want to… just promise me that you will consider it”

Masaki was biting his lower lip. He had never told Sho how he really felt. He was afraid to even admit it himself. Surely, he liked his presence, he felt safe in his arms, more alive than ever during the last year, whenever he tasted his kisses but… was he really in love with the other? He knew his heart was beating faster every time their lips were coming closer but was it love or simply lust? Attraction? He knew he needed the other but he didn’t want to use him… certainly not to lie to him. He knew Sho wouldn’t bear it, the very same way he wouldn’t either… They were alike… He could understand him better than anyone and he knew he didn’t deserve it…

He sighed deeply before opening his mouth reluctantly. “I… I promise…” his voice was trembling but it was enough to be held tightly. Smiling, he brought his hands on top of Sho’s saying nothing more.

“That’s all I wanted to hear…”

---

Sho had gone back to their room. It was time to drink his pills to prevent a seizure because of the need of drugs and alcohol. He sometimes felt his heart beating crazily without a reason or his hands turning completely cold… he still sometimes woke up in the night feeling his throat dry but then he would look at the man who slept by his side… his frowned face… there were still nightmares… he could see it but at least there were no screams… these belonged to the past. It was a small sign that helped him be strong because no matter how much he pretended it, he wasn’t.

He was afraid… afraid of many things… but he knew that he had to face them... he wanted Masaki in his life. He hadn’t judged him; neither had he clung on him because of his reputation or looks. They were two people with different backgrounds and problems but still felt as if they were part of the same mirror; the one being the idol of the other.

He wished Masaki did feel something for him… and today he had seen it and he felt that no matter how many times would he feel his skin itchy or his body trembling, he wouldn’t care… because Masaki had decided that he really cared for him. His eyes were still locked on the blue sky when he heard a wheelchair coming closer.

“So, now you will be the one staring when you have forbidden me?”

“The sky isn’t reflecting emptiness…” Sho whispered without turning his gaze away “It’s reflecting unity… we are all under the same sky with no boundaries in between… perhaps we are both here because we were both looking at it searching for something… and I know now that I’ve found it…”

***

“Hey…”

Masaki opened his eyes frowning. He could feel the sunrays hitting on his face but didn’t want to wake up. His muscles were screaming for rest. He had never thought it would be this difficult to go back to training.

“Masaki…”

“A little more…” he whined as he buried his head deeper on the pillow.

“We have to take a bath before Ayaka brings our breakfast. Come on, sleepy boy!”

Masaki sighed but nevertheless sat up on the bed. In a few minutes, he found himself sitting in the bathtub, Sho scrubbing his back. It had become their ritual… They both knew it was because that way they wouldn’t let each other fall into unnecessary thoughts. Masaki wasn’t so afraid of looking at his idol in the mirror and Sho didn’t spend his time letting guilt fill him up.

“Your muscles are tensed…” Sho said in a soft voice.

Masaki said nothing.

Sho didn’t push it more. He wished the other told him the truth but he knew it would be a big step and Masaki would go around and reveal everything only when he was ready. He took a hold of the showerhead and rinsed him.

Once finished, he held the base of the neck and the shoulders massaging them slowly. Soft moans of relief and pleasure escaped from Masaki’s mouth, causing him to smile.

“You feel better?” he whispered in his ear.

Masaki nodded and Sho muffled a laugh before he pecked the other’s nape. “You don’t have to be embarrassed… It only made me more eager to hear your moans under different circumstances…”

Masaki gasped. He would be lying if he denied that he had felt turned on by Sho’s touch against his skin as well as by the way his hot breath was landing on his nape. The fact that they were naked wasn’t helping either.

“But unfortunately rules are rules…” Sho whispered before moving back, making Masaki sigh disappointed before he could even realize it.

Sho had placed a towel around his waist when he came back holding Masaki’s. He placed it on his head, drying his hair. “I want you… but having to hide will be difficult… These docs are one of a kind! Remember that Ninomiya’s chubby, who always seems to be asleep, was the one who made me volunteer for the evening ‘expression through art’ group. I’m sure they will take notice and then we might end up in different rooms. Besides…” he stopped and looked into Masaki’s eyes “I want you to scream out loud the pleasure I’ll be giving you; not to be obliged to muffle it!” he winked and pecked the other’s lips who was blushing madly.

“You always tease me…”

“Maybe… but only because I love it when you blush, like right now…” Sho pecked Masaki’s lips before he let him sit back on his wheelchair.

“You have a session with Ninomiya?” Masaki asked as he picked a clean T-shirt avoiding to look at the other.

“Yes and I guess you have one with Matsumoto?”

“Yes…” Masaki said in a tiny voice and sighed.

“Remember… I believe in you…”

“And I in you…”

***

Masaki was looking at the ball he was holding and could feel his heart beating crazily. It felt like yesterday and in the same time, ages since the last time he felt it in his hands. Could he actually do it? He almost started trembling when he closed his eyes remembering his words. “I believe in you…”

He took a deep breath and turned his gaze up to the basket. It was such a strange feeling… so familiar yet so strange… He counted to three and threw the ball with all the power he had in his arms. It hit the backboard before ending in the nest and falling on the ground. He was biting his lower lip in an attempt to stop him from screaming out loud. He had done it…

“YOU DID IT, BABY!”

He turned around seeing Sho running towards him with tears in his eyes. Before he could understand what was happening, he found himself lifted up in the air, spun around by the other. He said nothing… He didn’t want to say anything. He only crushed their lips together, enjoying the eager way the other was responding to him. Every inch of his body was covered by the same excitement he always felt in the court but now there was something more… there was this man who was holding him in his arms, making him feel human again… without flaws… weakness…

“I believe in us, Sho… I guess I believed from the beginning but I was afraid to admit it… I was afraid of getting hurt again…” he mumbled once their mouths were apart.

“Masaki… My Masaki…” Sho whispered still holding him tightly till they heard someone clearing their throats.

They turned their heads meeting their appointed doctors looking at them; Ninomiya Kazunari with a purportedly critical stare and Matsumoto Jun with a frown.

“Should I remind you of the rules…?” Jun said in a tone that made Sho put Masaki back on his wheelchair before mumbling an apology.

“Aiba-san, Sakurai-san you’re late for your group session. Ohno-sensei is waiting for you… Hurry up!”

Nino rolled his eyes as he grabbed Jun’s arm. “Stop playing the DoS, J… It doesn’t suit you!”

“But they broke the…”

“You are the one to speak about rules!”

“I-” Jun started saying but was cut off.

“Should I remind you that your boyfriend used to be around here as well? And no, he wasn’t a doctor nor a nurse!” Nino wiggled his eyebrows smirking. “Just because you miss him for being abroad, it doesn’t mean that you should play the tough guy with these two… We told them, now let’s go! Besides, you have Agekata, don’t you?”

Sho and Masaki were left dumbfounded watching the other two going away or more correctly Ninomiya dragging Matsumoto away.

“Matsumoto-sensei is dating a former patient?!” Masaki said perplexed.

“I can’t believe Ninomiya wants to tell me that this clinic hasn’t popped out from Grey’s Anatomy…” Sho mumbled smirking widely.

Masaki burst into loud laughs that echoed in the walls of the empty court. It was breathy but to Sho’s ears adorable.

“I guess it’s not only your smile that is addictive but also your laugh…” Sho said before pushing Masaki towards the door. “Let’s go to Ohno’s room and the moment it’s over we’ll be right back! I want to see you throw some balls!”

***

In a week, it would be three months since they entered the clinic for the first time. The weather was getting colder but to neither of them felt like it. It had been a few weeks, since Sho had felt terrible because of his need for alcohol and drugs for the last time. He had managed to fill three notebooks of lyrics. He had denied meeting with his manager and only sent an email asking for the end of his contract. Screw being a millionaire… screw being a bad boy… He wanted to be Sho… Sho who was in love with Masaki and wrote the lyrics he wanted. Nothing more, nothing less.

“Glad to find you here… Your results are out…” the one who had spoken was Nino.

Sho felt his heart stopping. He had been praying this day would come but in the same time, he was afraid to face it.

“Ok”

Sho frowned still not looking at the other. “What?”

“They were ok… so that means you’re ok as well!”

“You mean I can be out of here?” Sho asked as he grabbed the small figured doctor’s both arms.

“I have to see my chubby’s report too before making my decision but I guess that by the end of the month you will be able to go home…”

“Finally! No more stupid rul-” Sho exclaimed happily before being cut off by the other.

“The stupid rules will always apply for alcohol and any alternative kind of… boost… the one that will be off is having fun with your boyfriend…” the doctor leaned closer. “I’d suggest you exploit it at the maximum… it’s the most effective boost out there!” he winked at him and left.

Sho ran to his room and opened the door with force when it hit him. He could leave… but what about the other? Masaki was eating properly… his portions were turning bigger and bigger… His body was also getting a lot heathier because of the daily training. Sho knew he was taking a pill to fight depression but he wouldn’t stand for hours by the window, staring at the sky… he would do it for a few minutes but his stare would be focused and lips curved in a smile. He was becoming another Masaki… an attractive Masaki, he had never expected… and he didn’t want to leave him behind. No matter what…

“They told you you’ll be out, didn’t they?”

Sho got startled, lost as he was in his thoughts. Sighing, he closed the door behind knowing well that he couldn’t hide from his boyfriend.

“They did…”

“And why looking this blue? I thought you’d be happy to make me scream from the pleasure you’d be giving me… or perhaps you think I don’t have the potential to be the killer-sexy you were daydreaming?!”

Masaki’s voice was husky, erotic yet in the same time, teasing, happy. Sho’s eyes bulged.

“You… you mean…?”

“YES!” Masaki exclaimed in an enthusiastic tone, Sho had never heard, before throwing his hands up in the air as a sign to the other to hold him up in his arms.

Sho held him tightly. “I knew we could find a purpose together… I knew it…”

“I love you, Sho” Masaki whispered, his face lost in Sho’s hair.

“I love you too, Masaki… I love you so much!”

***

“J…?”

Jun sighed recognizing the hint in the other’s tone.

“Fine! You can have it!” he turned around throwing him a warning gaze. “But only for a weekend!”

“Friday and a weekend. Nice to work with you!” Nino replied triumphantly before turning around to Satoshi who was looking at him rather confused. “This Friday we leave for Yokohama! J was kind enough to let us enjoy his maisonette with the best view at the city!” he came closer wrapping his arms around his lover’s neck. “Imagine the sex we will have behind those windows…”

Satoshi cleared his throat, choosing not to comment on the other’s fetishism. “And why would he lend it to us? He’s way too sensitive when it comes to his coffee mug let alone his luxurious maisonette…”

“Oh… that’s because he lost the bet. You remember how he insisted we put Aiba in a single bedroom at the north so that we can check on him better…”

“Yes…?”

“I insisted that we put Sakurai and Aiba together and it actually worked!”

“You had a bet on the patients?! I can’t believe you, Nino!”

“But it was the only way Jun would let us use his luxurious maisonette… I’ve been dying to go there since he had showed us those photos!”

Satoshi didn’t want to listen to anything. He stormed out of the office, followed by Nino.

“But baby… I did what I thought it would be the best for Sakurai and Aiba and I was proved right… They had many things in common and I know how it is to actually have someone that understands you better than anyone by your side! My chubby… please… talk to me… please…”

“You did well and I agreed with you because I also thought it was the right thing to do. That’s why I asked from Jun-kun to be Aiba’s appointed doctor this time. He hadn’t opened to me… but from that to actually put a bet is different… I’m not going to Yokohama!”

“But… But imagine all the things I’ll do to you… whatever it is…”

“No!”

***

Masaki looked at Sho who was holding both their suitcases, one at each side of his as they headed towards the taxi that was waiting for them outside. He had agreed to go to Sho’s apartment for a while, till they found a new place of their own, knowing that his landlord would never accept him back; not that he wanted to go there ever again… it would only remind him his weaknesses, his restless days and nights and he was sure that was the last thing he needed at the moment.

Sho, on the other hand, had no problem. It always felt like a hotel room; there weren’t many feelings involved. He knew that it would be tough for both of them. Until now, they were under the safety of the clinic… now, they would be on their own but this time they wouldn’t be alone… they’d have each other.

“Don’t forget that we’re expecting you in two weeks for a small check-up!” Nino told them as he gave them his hand. “So, please remember to eat properly after any kind of exercise!” he said rather suggestively making half of the ones around him laugh and the rest blush.

“Once weird, always weird!” Sho mumbled smiling. “But I must admit you’re one hell of a doc and no, I’m not hitting on you! I have my killer-sexy babe!”

Nino muffled a laugh. “I never thought you were! Take care and if you need anything, I mean anything don’t hesitate to call any of us! Ok?”

The two young men nodded. After they greeted the doctors and the few nurses that had come to send them off, they sat in the taxi ready to face the world.

“Ready?” Sho asked his hand gripping Masaki’s tightly.

Masaki looked at his boyfriend’s eyes and smiled. “Ready!”



THE END

A.N. Soooo minna here's the second part of this small Sakuraiba fic! ^_^ I hope it turned out ok! I tried to include as many Sakuraiba moments as possible, as well as to show the progress that they had! I wanted them to have their fluffy moments and show how they came closer to each other! As for the ones who had commented at the previous one that it was Nino's idea, you were right! ;) And just to lighten things up a bit, I tried to include some funny moments - thanks to the super trio of the doctors!  xD
In a few days you'll be having the epilogue, too! :)

My dear dani_mathoz hope it turned out the way you wanted!!! ;) Love you!



I hope you really enjoyed it and as always your comments are <333!!!



See you very soon,
Andy ^_^