Title: Kibou no Takara

Author: Andy-chan (antimiya88)

Pairings: Sakuraiba (main) / Ohmiya (mentioned) / Junma (only 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.

Part 1   /   Part 2

A year later…

Sho looked at his lover who had fallen asleep next to him. His cheeks were still flushed and his hair sweaty, stuck on his beautiful face betraying their former passionate actions. Sho could only smile, his hand coming to take the tufts away. He looked beautiful… like an angel… He always was but seeing him being lost in pleasure was something that he would have never dared to imagine… Masaki would be giving… passionate… loving… caring… perfect… He still couldn’t believe how lucky he was to have met him.

It had almost been a year since they had left the clinic and the more time passed by, the more he felt blessed. At first, it had been difficult but they had each other. He knew that Masaki would check to see, if he had hidden alcohol somewhere in the apartment the same way he would check, to see if the other had taken his pills. The road had not been easy but luckily, they would stick to their purpose.

It had been a couple of months ago that Sho had managed to go to the studio and record his first indie cd. All the songs were nothing like with his older ones but to his surprise, it was welcomed by a respectful part of his older fans and strangely by a big part of the music critics. Revolutionary and true were the two words that had been used to describe it and Sho couldn’t have been more satisfied…

This cd was his telling of his story… of their story… He wanted to prove to everyone who had tried to speak ill of them that they had managed to be the winners and also send a message to all those people lost in their illusions that there was always light at the end of the tunnel, as long as they were determined to find it.

He kept staring at his lover who snuggled closer to him. He pressed his lips softly on his forehead and sneaked out of the bed, trying not to wake the other up. It was 2 am but sleep wouldn’t come. He had a quick shower and went to the kitchen to make a tea. In the apartment they would keep many different teas because Masaki insisted that because alcohol was banned, it didn’t mean that there shouldn’t be a wide range of drinks.

He took his mug and went to sit by the window, observing the few people that were walking down the street at this hour. He found himself thinking about the next day. He would give a small concert… nothing like in the past but he felt too nervous… how would it be? Would they be supportive? Would there be any former fans to boo him perhaps? It was nerve-wracking.

His eyes fell on the small photo on the bookcase on his right. He had taken it three months ago when he had been with Masaki to Yokohama. His lover had insisted to climb on the Ferris wheel after sunset. Then, he couldn’t understand why but after seeing this picture he could. He had Masaki on his lap, the latter’s head resting on the crook of neck while having behind the most beautiful background…

There were small moments like this that had made him feel strong… willing to remain like that forever. He drank some of his tea and sighed deeply.

“You shouldn’t be awake…” he heard Masaki whisper behind him and turned around to find his lover on his wheelchair with his boxers and T-shirt on.

“Masaki, I woke you up? I didn’t want to…”

“I would have joined you in your bath but it took me some time to sit on the wheelchair...” Masaki replied in a whiny voice as he came closer to his lover, throwing his hands around Sho’s nape.

“I… I hurt you?” Sho asked rather worried just to be hushed with a breathtaking kiss.

“I admit that I’m a bit sore…” Masaki whispered once he broke it “But you really are worried of having hurt me?! Trust me, Sho… those screams from earlier weren’t of pain or discomfort…”

“But still… I couldn’t control myself… You make me insatiable…”

“And I want you to stay like that… I’m not made of glass you know…” Masaki said teasingly. “So, feel free and give it all to me… Just not the night before my games… We always have the night after… Ok?”

Sho smiled leaning closer and pecked playfully Masaki’s nose. “Whatever my baby wants!”

“Nervous?” Masaki asked in a serious tone this time.

“Yes…” Sho said sighing.

“You shouldn’t be… everyone will be there to cheer you up… and don’t forget that you will have your biggest fan there too! He even prepared a special hoodie!”

Sho tilted his head with a small frown. “Am I supposed to worry about my biggest fan?”

“Yes… because he will scream and cheer for you this loud that no one else will have the chance to reach you!”

Sho smiled taking Masaki in his arms as he went to sit at the corner of the sofa. “Good! Because I don’t care for anyone else in the first place… As long as I have him, I’m more than happy…”

Masaki caressed his lover’s cheek before placing a soft kiss on it. “There’s nothing to worry about. You go out there and do what you love the most. When you’re real, people will know…”

“Baby…” Sho whispered tightening his hug.

“I have faith in you, Sho… I believe in you!”

“I love you…”

“I love you, too…”

***
 

A year and five months later…

Masaki raised his hands to block the other. He could see with the corner of his eyes that the stopwatch was counting under five seconds till the end of the game. He had to move fast after a fake and a fast break he managed to get the ball and quickly throw a three-point shoot. Everyone was left almost breathless watching the ball as it went closer to the basket.

Masaki couldn’t believe it. It had got in… they had won… He could hear the viewers screaming out loud, his co-players come to cheer with him but his eyes scanned almost eagerly the grandstands. He knew Sho would always pick the ones behind the basket his team would use for the last half-time. It took him some seconds and then he saw him. Having put a scarf at the colors of his team around his forehead and jumping up and down screaming at the top of his lungs.

He felt tears of happiness filling up his eyes once again. It had been exactly like he had said. Sho had always been to his games. He would always cheer for him… he would always make him feel protected as he moved up and down the court. He couldn’t deny that he had missed running, making behind-the-legs-dribbles and fakes the way he used to but he wasn’t ungrateful. He could still hear the sound the ball did as it hit against the backboard. He could still feel it in his hands… and that was enough.

In the locker room the cheers and excitement continued and Masaki felt the adrenaline running through his veins. He was complete… even if he couldn’t walk.

Soon, they all had their showers.  Masaki was left on his own, as he enjoyed being the last one to leave the locker room. It helped him register the image… the reminder that he could still be in there… still play basketball. He was ready to leave as well when he saw two men waiting for him at the door.

“Aiba-san?”

Masaki nodded. “Yes…?” He frowned when he saw the card he was given. He looked at them confused.

“Don’t look troubled, we just wanted to tell you that you’ve been selected to join the national team. You have caught our attention since that game against Osaka RP and today we were convinced that you should be there!”

Masaki was left speechless. “Me…?” tears made his sight blurry. “Jo… joining the national team?”

“Before your hiatus, you were one of the stars and you proved in so little time to everyone that you still are. You’re born to play basketball, Aiba-san… you have the talent but you also have the passion… The Japanese team needs such inspiring players… Japan needs such inspiring people… It helps fighting against prejudice! We will expecting you at the training center this Saturday at ten am!”

Masaki found himself blushing. There was no way he was or could be all of that. He only nodded to them with a smile but remained silent.

“They are saying the truth, you know…”

Masaki looked up surprised to find his lover, leaning against the door with his hands crossed in front of his chest.

“Sho…”

Sho ran to him and took him in his arms, lifting him up in the air. “You were shining, my Masaki! Amazing, breathtaking! Today more than ever!”

“Sho…” Masaki whispered again, not knowing what he should say. He was feeling shy but also happy knowing that the other loved him so much.

“I wish I could just shove you against your locker and make you scream…”

“I’m glad to see you follow my advice and exploit yourselves at the maximum!” a voice was heard behind them making them freeze.

Sho placed Masaki carefully on his wheelchair before turning his attention to the one who had spoken.

“Ninomiya… What are you doing here?”

“That’s it? Not –sensei anymore? My feelings are hurt! I’m still a doctor you know!”

“Still a weird doc!”

“Unique!”

Sho rolled his eyes but before he could say anything as a reply, he heard Masaki talking to the other doctor. “Ohno-kun, it’s a pleasure to see you here. Never thought you were a basketball fan…”

“I wanted to see you! We would have come earlier but Nino is very stubborn when it comes to his favorite games!”

Nino sighed. “I wanted to watch Aiba-kun as well, my Chubby!”

Sho chuckled. These two had somehow stick close to them… They were undoubtedly weird but cute in the same time… and he knew that even if they never admitted it, it was them that had pushed him and Masaki to open up. They had become to them more than their former doctors… people, who Sho knew for sure, cared for them… It had started after the ‘official visits’ at the clinic had ended. Masaki had told them to come at their apartment as a thank you for everything they had done.

They had started talking about many things. They would occasionally meet and a couple of months ago they had gone to the doctors’ apartment as well, surprised to find a whole corner of the living room full of pc games and consoles. They had come to know them better and Sho would even dare to say that they, along with Matsumoto Jun and his boyfriend, Ikuta Toma, had become their… friends…

“You know? Last week, Matsumoto-kun came with Ikuta-kun to watch Sho’s live!” Masaki said enthusiastically as he moved forwards.

“Pretentious, art-loving diva…” Nino mumbled under his breath with a sulking face, crossing his hands in front of his chest.

Satoshi sighed. “What do you say we go all together for dinner?” he asked everyone ignoring his boyfriend.

“Sure. But not hamburger this time!”

Masaki chuckled seeing Nino’s facial expression.

“What about yakiniku?” he asked, smiling to see both Sho and Satoshi agreeing with him. “My treat! I got picked for the national team!” he added casually.

“You’re kidding!” Nino said immediately finding back his smile.

Sho looked at his lover with the couple of doctors getting out of the room talking enthusiastically about the news. There was no doubt that they had become their friends… very good friends...

***

“What are you thinking, Sho?” Masaki asked as he placed his head on top of Sho’s chest, listening to his heart beat.

“How beautiful my life is… When I had been forced to enter the clinic, I thought it was the worst thing that had ever happened to me…”

Masaki smiled as he rested his weight on his right elbow to watch his lover. “And now?”

“I realize that it was the best… not only did I find you but also four amazing friends!”

Masaki was pulled into a sweet kiss. “Sho… can I tell you something?”

“Of course, baby!”

“I feel that my accident was a blessing…”

“Masak-”

“Shh…” Masaki placed his palm on top of Sho’s lips to hush him. “Let me finish first! If it hadn’t happened to me, I would have stuck to a life where basketball was everything for me. Now it is what gives energy, fun but is not everything… I have a wonderful man by my side… wonderful friends… I feel loved… and basketball has got a different, deeper meaning! So, yes… I think that it was a blessing… because before, when I could still walk, I thought I was happy but now I realize how wrong I was. Something was missing. Now, it doesn’t… because now I have someone who truly loves Masaki… not the player… not the rich man… not the body…” he said weakly feeling tears building up in his eyes.

“Hey! I don’t love your body… I adore it!” Sho said teasingly with a pout and Masaki knew that it was his way to lighten the atmosphere up.

“That’s also a difference, Sho…” he said with a smile while sniffing discreetly his nose. “Don’t…”

“Don’t…?”

“Don’t you think that now it would be a good moment to show it to me?” Masaki whispered with a pout.

Sho chuckled. “To show you what, baby?” his voice huskier.

Masaki looked at him with dark eyes, his voice colored by the lust. “How much you adore my body… If I remember correctly, you were saying something about… shoving me against the locker…”

“There are no lockers here…” Sho replied in a hoarse voice, his hand traveling under the hem of his lover’s shirt.

“There are closets!” Masaki whispered in Sho’s ear, his lips ghosting on the hot skin.

“Your wish, my command…” Sho growled and picked his lover up who was giggling, crashing their bodies together.

He shoved him against the closet in their bedroom, staring at his flushed face. He would never get tired of staring at it… it wasn’t just the beauty… it was the love…

He leaned closer, his lips attaching to the soft neck. “Now, prepare yourself to scream…” more feather-like kisses “… a lot!”





THE END





A.N. Sooo minna here's the epilogue!!! ^_^ I know some of you wanted it to be nc but I didn't want to make this fic like that! There were still some hints though! ;) I hope you liked it! I wanted to show some important moments of their lives and how they have succeeded in fighting with the old demons while loving each other more! ^^


My dear dani_mathoz I hope everything was satisfying!!! Love you! <3



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



See you very soon,
Andy ^_^