[Fic] The Silence of Midnight (2/?) (Prince of Tennis)
Title: The Silence of Midnight (2/?)
Rating: Gen
Characters: Tezuka Kunimitsu, Tezuka Ayana, random doctor. VERY brief mentions of the Seigaku team and Ryuuzaki.
Summary: Two days after the mugging, Tezuka awakes.
Betaed by the wonderful hime_chi. Dedicated to my mother, as a belated tribute for over twenty-three years of putting up with me. Happy belated birthday, mom!
Chapter 1 posted here. All fics in "The Silence of Midnight" are in reverse chronological order here.
When he opened his eyes two days later, the first things he saw were the bright wet trails of his mother's tears. This was followed by the first concrete physical feeling: pain, along his back and left side.
"Thank you," he heard, the words part of a softly whispered prayer. Then arms surrounded him as his mother hugged him in front of everyone else. The room was full: full of red, white and blue jackets, and the sounds of relieved conversation and the beginning strains of relaxed laughter. Even Ryuuzaki-sensei was here, talking to his grandfather. Tezuka noticed the look on her face before she turned and smiled at him.
***
That evening, he protested, for it was obvious Tezuka Ayana was exhausted caring for her son in the hospital. However, obstinacy was a genetic trait, and Tezuka had not inherited it from his father. Therefore, the only time he was alone was at night, when his mother was sound asleep, her head resting on his bed.
He had not cried when the doctors suggested he would never be able to play tennis again, not even recreationally. But as he lay there, the rain lightly brushing against the windows beside him, Tezuka Kunimitsu wished with all his heart that he could.
***
The police took his statement the next day. They hadn't made any progress on Tezuka's case just yet, but the police sketch artist produced five clear sketches that afternoon as Tezuka forced himself to remember. Tezuka thanked the constable who had found him, and the man smiled, expressing his relief that Tezuka was alright now.
When they left, smiling and nodding and expressing almost-sincere wishes for his speedy recovery, Tezuka wondered if they would manage to make any progress by the time he was discharged.
***
It was raining again, the third time in the three days since he'd regained consciousness.
Tezuka let out an almost imperceptible sigh. The patter of raindrops had ceased to be annoying after the first 24 hours; now it was merely background noise. Perhaps he would miss it when the rain finally stopped. He almost wished he was back in his coma. At least there, the weather did not reflect his feelings, and he could play tennis.
The room was empty, and for a moment, Tezuka felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness and apprehension. Then the door opened, and Tezuka Ayana walked in, closing the door behind her.
"How do you feel, Kunimitsu?"
"Better, Mother," Tezuka said, nodding politely. He was grateful she was still here; that he had not been left alone.
"That's good," his mother said, smiling. The smile was frailer than Tezuka remembered it, and with a start, he realized that she seemed thinner than he remembered, too.
He was twenty-five, now, and that meant his mother was at least fifty ("We married two weeks before my twenty-fifth birthday. Your father looked so handsome in his white suit") and the years of caring for three men were beginning to tell.
***
"How much longer?" Tezuka asked the doctor later, when the man had entered to check on his progress.
The doctor paused, blinked, understood the question. "Not long now. You've healed well. As long as you don't aggravate this arm, you'll be fine. Next week, unless any sudden changes develop; but I think it is unlikely you will be staying past next week."
Tezuka nodded, but he was not yet satisfied, and he continued to watch the doctor as his shoulder bandages were changed. The surface wounds had healed, mostly, the criss-crossing lines down his side and back and arms now closed and beginning to scab properly.
The doctor picked up the last fresh dressing. "If you continue attending physical therapy, perhaps it will be strong enough for recreational sports in a few years."
"Thank you." Tezuka liked this doctor. He understood what Tezuka wanted to know, and he wasn't condescending, not in any way.
"My pleasure, Tezuka-san." The doctor paused by the door, and nodded to Tezuka Ayana. "He'll be fine, Tezuka-san. Now, it's just a matter of time."
When the door closed, Tezuka turned to his mother, expression gentle. "You should take better care of yourself, Mother."
"Mothers can't bear to see their children suffer, Kunimitsu." Her voice was kind, but beginning to hoarsen with age.
"Children do not wish their parents to overwork themselves when it is not necessary, Mother." He squeezed his mother's hand lightly. "My discharge is next week. I am alright now. Please do not make me worry about you, Mother. You work too hard."
Tezuka Ayana smiled, and nodded. Her son had always been independent.
***
That night, Tezuka looked at the empty chair beside his bed and then looked away again. He watched the raindrops splatter against the glass for a long time.
Chapter 3
As always, comments/critique VERY welcome!
Rating: Gen
Characters: Tezuka Kunimitsu, Tezuka Ayana, random doctor. VERY brief mentions of the Seigaku team and Ryuuzaki.
Summary: Two days after the mugging, Tezuka awakes.
Betaed by the wonderful hime_chi. Dedicated to my mother, as a belated tribute for over twenty-three years of putting up with me. Happy belated birthday, mom!
Chapter 1 posted here. All fics in "The Silence of Midnight" are in reverse chronological order here.
When he opened his eyes two days later, the first things he saw were the bright wet trails of his mother's tears. This was followed by the first concrete physical feeling: pain, along his back and left side.
"Thank you," he heard, the words part of a softly whispered prayer. Then arms surrounded him as his mother hugged him in front of everyone else. The room was full: full of red, white and blue jackets, and the sounds of relieved conversation and the beginning strains of relaxed laughter. Even Ryuuzaki-sensei was here, talking to his grandfather. Tezuka noticed the look on her face before she turned and smiled at him.
***
That evening, he protested, for it was obvious Tezuka Ayana was exhausted caring for her son in the hospital. However, obstinacy was a genetic trait, and Tezuka had not inherited it from his father. Therefore, the only time he was alone was at night, when his mother was sound asleep, her head resting on his bed.
He had not cried when the doctors suggested he would never be able to play tennis again, not even recreationally. But as he lay there, the rain lightly brushing against the windows beside him, Tezuka Kunimitsu wished with all his heart that he could.
***
The police took his statement the next day. They hadn't made any progress on Tezuka's case just yet, but the police sketch artist produced five clear sketches that afternoon as Tezuka forced himself to remember. Tezuka thanked the constable who had found him, and the man smiled, expressing his relief that Tezuka was alright now.
When they left, smiling and nodding and expressing almost-sincere wishes for his speedy recovery, Tezuka wondered if they would manage to make any progress by the time he was discharged.
***
It was raining again, the third time in the three days since he'd regained consciousness.
Tezuka let out an almost imperceptible sigh. The patter of raindrops had ceased to be annoying after the first 24 hours; now it was merely background noise. Perhaps he would miss it when the rain finally stopped. He almost wished he was back in his coma. At least there, the weather did not reflect his feelings, and he could play tennis.
The room was empty, and for a moment, Tezuka felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness and apprehension. Then the door opened, and Tezuka Ayana walked in, closing the door behind her.
"How do you feel, Kunimitsu?"
"Better, Mother," Tezuka said, nodding politely. He was grateful she was still here; that he had not been left alone.
"That's good," his mother said, smiling. The smile was frailer than Tezuka remembered it, and with a start, he realized that she seemed thinner than he remembered, too.
He was twenty-five, now, and that meant his mother was at least fifty ("We married two weeks before my twenty-fifth birthday. Your father looked so handsome in his white suit") and the years of caring for three men were beginning to tell.
***
"How much longer?" Tezuka asked the doctor later, when the man had entered to check on his progress.
The doctor paused, blinked, understood the question. "Not long now. You've healed well. As long as you don't aggravate this arm, you'll be fine. Next week, unless any sudden changes develop; but I think it is unlikely you will be staying past next week."
Tezuka nodded, but he was not yet satisfied, and he continued to watch the doctor as his shoulder bandages were changed. The surface wounds had healed, mostly, the criss-crossing lines down his side and back and arms now closed and beginning to scab properly.
The doctor picked up the last fresh dressing. "If you continue attending physical therapy, perhaps it will be strong enough for recreational sports in a few years."
"Thank you." Tezuka liked this doctor. He understood what Tezuka wanted to know, and he wasn't condescending, not in any way.
"My pleasure, Tezuka-san." The doctor paused by the door, and nodded to Tezuka Ayana. "He'll be fine, Tezuka-san. Now, it's just a matter of time."
When the door closed, Tezuka turned to his mother, expression gentle. "You should take better care of yourself, Mother."
"Mothers can't bear to see their children suffer, Kunimitsu." Her voice was kind, but beginning to hoarsen with age.
"Children do not wish their parents to overwork themselves when it is not necessary, Mother." He squeezed his mother's hand lightly. "My discharge is next week. I am alright now. Please do not make me worry about you, Mother. You work too hard."
Tezuka Ayana smiled, and nodded. Her son had always been independent.
***
That night, Tezuka looked at the empty chair beside his bed and then looked away again. He watched the raindrops splatter against the glass for a long time.
Chapter 3
As always, comments/critique VERY welcome!