One World with Seven Sins ...7/8

[kanu_x]

Edited:2013.02.11

Title: One World with Seven Sins
Feature/Pairing: only Yama, OCs
Rating: PG-13 (incest, sexual references)
Genre: au, solely romance based: no subplots
Summary: Stepbrothers Ohno and Sho gradually fall in love over the years.
Their troubles learning to accept and understand their feelings. Aka frustration.
Part: 7/8
A/N: This fic was actually inspired by Tensaibaka's lovely Juntoshi fic Prisoner of Love - Incestuous Love.

Previous: Vice SIX

Vice SEVEN: Envy - wanting what somebody else has

* * *

There are too many "if"s in the world.
If one of my parents had not passed away...
If we had never been stepbrothers...

They searched the whole night. The next day. The days following. For a few weeks in a row. Nothing turned up. No clues to Ohno's disappearance. The search came to a standstill. Life went on as if there had been no other son, no older brother. Or that was the way it seemed to anyone peering in from the outside.

Yamada knew. At work, she saw Sho laughing and smiling with his colleagues as if everything in his life was okay. Yet she saw his emotionless eyes, his grin devoid of any warmth. She couldn't take it. She'd never be happy this way.

"Mrs. Sakurai," Yamada started one day when she was meeting with the woman. She sat across from Sho's mother in the diner and asked, "Isn't there any other way? Why can't he just forget?"

The older woman took out a tissue and wiped at her eyes. She did not say anything.

Frustrated, Yamada went on. "Why can't he just move on!?"

Mrs. Ohno could not control her sorrow and wept into her napkin. "I'm sorry." She should not have egged the young lady on. She should not have destroyed her son's life.

And Yamada could not help that she cried also. "Can't he tell how much I love him?" she sobbed.

So Mrs. Ohno reached across the table and took her hand. "Then, please. Understand how much he loves Satoshi."

But Yamada did and that was why it hurt her. She knew Sho would never love her.

The next day at work, he came to talk to her with a smile on his face. As if everything was normal. She would not let him lie to himself any longer. She hated how he forced himself. Yamada threw her papers at him and shouted at breakpoint, "All right! I give up! But you have to promise me, don't pretend to keep smiling. Don't force yourself!"

At her words, his grin disappeared.

Yamada took his hand and said, "You promise. You have to find your brother."

From that moment on, before their very eyes Sho became a living statue. He had not stopped searching. Not even once. But it was the fact that he could not find his brother that destroyed him.

A thousand paths lie before me.
Paths I could have taken. Paths that could have happened.

Along with a few others, he took a vacation during Christmas and spent those days traveling to various places. Places where Ohno could've disappeared to. It was in vain. Sho came back more downcast than before.

The night of his return, Mrs. Ohno cried to her husband, "I can't watch anymore. Someone stop it. Make him stop. He's killing himself."

He hugged her in tense silence because they both already knew. There was no way to stop their son from searching for his happiness. No way to end his suffering.

But I walk on this path. Just this one of despair.
In the end, there are too many ifs.

New Years came and went.

It was just another day at work. Sho sat in his office and mechanically scanned through his papers.

Yamada set a container of canned coffee on his desk. She forced a smile on her face and asked, "How was your vacation?"

"All right," he replied sharply. That was it. He had nothing more to say even after she waited.

"Have a nice day then," she said quietly and reluctantly backed out of his office. Yamada worried with a heavy heart. Would his torment ever end?

During lunch break, Sho kept to himself at a separate table.

His colleagues spared a few glances in his direction. They had not been informed about his situation, but only an idiot would not be able to read the dark atmosphere around him. Therefore, once again they left him alone.

However, at the end of the day one man worked up enough courage to approach Sho. He felt uneasy ignoring his friend. No matter what, they had to at least exchange a few words. There was no way he would let Sho shut himself out completely.

So as he entered the office of the stony-faced man, he asked, "Sakurai you took off during Christmas too, didn't you?"

Sho spared him one glance, nodded his head, and then went back to packing and organizing.

The colleague cleared his throat for courage and smiled brightly. He reached into his back pocket and took out a packet of photos. "Do you want to know where I went?"

Sho was uninterested but the man would not let him get away. He placed the photos on the table in front of Sho, knowing his friend was too polite to tell him to leave. "Come on, look. I went to a little village, you know. My grandpa lives there." He spread the pictures and pointed to one wrinkled man waving. "They're crazy there! It's cold but they're still going to sea as if it's nothing."

"Hmm..." Afraid to hurt his feelings, Sho took one quick look before returning to his work.

The man stared at him silently. His cheerful smile waned when he knew he could do nothing, could change nothing for his friend. "Yea... It was fun there." He took a deep breath and gathered the pictures into one. "All right then. I'm taking my leave. See you tomorrow."

"Okay," Sho murmured. His colleague turned to the door but it was at that moment that a few photos slipped out of his grasp.

"Woops!" He bent down to retrieve them, feeling ashamed and a little stupid at his clumsiness.

Because he felt sorry for the guy and guilty for the way he was acting, Sho helped him. He picked up two and handed them over. "Here."

"Ah, thank you very much," the colleague said gratefully. A mixture of sadness and disappoinment gripped him. The old Sho. At the least, a ghost of his former self. He reached for the two but then saw the wide-eyed look of disbelief on Sho's face and froze. "Sakurai, what's wrong?"

With trembling hands, Sho pulled his arm back to view the two photos in his grasp closely. The old wrinkled man from before, holding with glee the humongous body of a fish. Next to him stood a young man, obviously cold but smiling also. It couldn't be. After all this time?

"Sakurai?" the colleague repeated, worried.

Sho's head snapped up. He stared straight into the man's eyes and blurted, "Who's this?" And he shoved the picture into the man's face.

Startled, the friend moved back a little. He blinked at the picture. "O-oh. An acquaintance I met there. My grandfather owns an apartment building and he's a tenant. They go fishing together sometimes. He went with us while I was there." When Sho continued to stare at him wordlessly, he became unnerved and added, "His name's Ohno. Ohno Satoshi."

To his surprise, Sho closed his eyes, as if in relief.

He brought the picture close to his heart. Finally.

I keep thinking of what might have happened. And at those times, I suddenly wish I were someone else.

The time had gone by without restraint. From a few seasons to the next. A blur of countless days in which Ohno could not tell the difference. They were days without that person. He did not number them because there was no use in seeing the digits increase. It'll never go down.

The first month of the new year, Sho turned a year older.

On his birthday, Ohno drew and designed a cake. Afterwards, he sat back and stared at the drawing, wishing it were real. Too bad. He didn't know how to bake. When they were young, Sho had laughed at his dream to be a baker. Childish Sho.

The thought about his brother depressed him, so he stowed the picture away and returned to watch the aisles. He spent his nights working at a convenience store, one of two in the small countryside village. In the mornings, he went fishing with the old landlord of his one-room apartment, even now in the middle of winter. Life was easy and peaceful, yet something was missing. He had everything he need. There was just one thing; only one person he wanted. Sho. A dream that would never come true.

He sometimes wondered how his family was doing. Those moments he would almost call to check before he realized he couldn't. No. He had broken everything between them. His mother, she must be happy now. He hoped she would be.

A woman placed a pack of gum on the counter and broke into his thoughts. Ohno, sitting in the chair beside the cash register, looked up at her with a frown. The same old woman who came everyday to buy meaningless stuff.
He rang the item up and announced the total. "One and twenty cents, madam." And opened his palm to receive the money.

Mrs. Sato snatched his outstretched hand and clutched it to her chest.

"Hey!" Ohno struggled to break free but she tightened her hold. "Get off me!" With his other hand, he tried to push her away.

"Just for a moment! Just one!" she shouted.

She was the reason why he hated working here. The old women around town secretly giggled behind his back. Everyone in the town knew about Mrs. Sato's infatuation with him and thought it funny. It was most certainly not.

When Ohno finally broke free, the woman shamelessly blushed at him, threw the money down on the counter, and skipped away with her pack of gum. He stared after her and hoped she wouldn't come tomorrow.

In the dark night, Mrs. Sato skipped happily through the deserted streets. Once again, she had gotten to touch the lucky young boy. She adored him.

Just as she was about to round the corner, a man stepped out of the shadows.

"Aaggh!" Mrs. Sato shrieked and fell back. She knew everyone around the village, but this man was a stranger. Was he going to kill her? But under the streetlight she saw only a handsome young person. Too goodlooking to fear.

He consoled her anyway. "I won't hurt you, madam." He moved back a little so that he would not intimidate her. "I promise."

She burst into chuckles at how silly she had been and placed a hand over her pounding heart. "Oh, it's all right. But it's late out, young man."

The handsome man smiled down at her. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared. What was the world turning into? How fortunate she was.

"I need your help. Would you lend me a hand?" he asked charmingly.

How could she deny this attractive boy? Mrs. Sato nodded enthusiastically. "Anything."

Days later, Ohno woke up early to go fishing like always. He shivered while he waited on the docks for the landlord to come. It seemed that today more than usual he was feeling down. Instinctually, he felt a sort of fog and darkness surrounding him.

They caught very little that day, which only lowered his spirits further. When Ohno made his way to his part-time job that evening, he had to force himself to put one step in front of the other.

Doing the same thing he always did, he sat at his chair with his drawing utensils while he waited for customers. They came at different times throughout the night. Some were regular shoppers. A few who rarely frequented. Even if one of them were to walk off with an item, he wouldn't have noticed.

Then towards closing when most people would've been in bed, once again Mrs. Sato paid him a visit.

He spared her no attention as she walked the aisles with a sheaf of newspapers tucked under her arm.

Finally, Mrs. Sato grabbed a toothbrush and went to the counter. Ohno peered up from his work and frowned at her again. Should he reach out his hand this time? He was not in the mood to be tolerant. As he rang her purchase up, still debating in his head, Mrs. Sato spoke.

"Ohno, have you ever been to Tokyo?"

The name of his city surprised him and his heart skipped a beat. Ohno glanced up at her making sure to keep himself expressionless. "No," he mumbled. Why ask?

Mrs. Sato sighed exaggeratedly. She took out the newspaper she'd been carrying all that time and set it on the counter the same moment he announced her total. She ignored him and said, "My niece just came back from Tokyo, you know."

He didn't remember that she had a niece but maybe it was just him. Ohno wondered why he was even listening when he was not interested in what she had to say, but he kept silent while she went on.

"Such a crowded city, that place. Not a good way to live." She flipped through the newspaper leisurely.

Impatient, Ohno drummed his fingers on the register. He didn't care. He repeated, "Three and four cents, madam."

Mrs. Sato glanced up at him. "Oh," as if she hadn't known he was waiting to be paid. Then she dug into her handbag for the money but continued oblivious of his disinterest, "So she brought back this paper from Tokyo and I thought it was surprising to find what's happening over there."

Ohno became frustrated at her. With scrunched brows, he declared, "Why would anyone bring back a newspaper!?" Of all available, completely perfect souvenirs!

Of course, Mrs. Sato stopped searching and blinked up at him. "Because you and I have never been to Tokyo," she stated surely as if it was the most obvious thing in the world and why did he not understand.

"Okay," Ohno replied in defeat. He would surrender just to end this conversation. "Three and four cents, please." He just had to go back to doing what he was and leave the paper alone.

Mrs. Sato tried and was unsuccessful in getting his attention again, so she paid and left with her toothbrush. Ohno returned to drawing gratefully. At least, she hadn't tried anything today. But his eyes fell on the counter and saw that the old woman had left her prized newspaper behind. His head snapped to the door to catch her but she was already gone.

He sighed. He'd stow it away and return it to her next time. It'd probably be tomorrow. Ohno reached for the sheets and gathered them into one. By chance, he looked down and his eyes fell on a familiar face from a photo printed underneath a title that read, "Dangerous Weather: One Man Dead?"

Ohno gasped. "Sho?" he whispered.

There it was, the picture of a his brother beside that of a wrecked car. Ohno grasped the paper and brought it close to his eyes. It was impossible. Unbelievable.

He read: [Last Monday night when the city experienced its first heavy snowfall this season, Sakurai Sho (27) lost control of his car and the vehicle ran into a tree. The accident was reported an hour later when a car happened to pass by. The badly injured passenger was rushed to a hospital, but it was unfortunately an hour too late. Mr. Sakurai had incurred a massive blow to the head and the doctors believe that nothing can be done for him. With the knowledge that he will not have much time left, his parents obtained permission from the hospital to take their son home.]

[In this tragic situation, Mrs. Sakurai (49) the patient's mother said there's something to be thankful for. 'My eldest son has left home for a while now, and Sho has been waiting for his return. They were very close to each other. The fact that Sho's life is prolonged even just one day gives us hope that they will get a chance to say their goodbyes. Wherever my older son is, I hope he will make it back in time.']

[As of the moment, Mr. Sakurai's health continues to deteriote and we wish him luck and a miracle. Readers, remember to drive carefully and safely this season because it can be dangerous and fatal on the road.]

Ohno fell back into his chair, dumbstruck. Blood rushed up his face. His heart raced. He couldn't believe it. It was not true. Couldn't be. Sho? No way. No damn way. And he almost wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the news. Sho? No way in hell. How could this be so coincidental? Just when he had access to information from Tokyo.

Ohno crunched the newspaper into a ball. He was angry. No. Frustrated. And he smoothed the paper out again just to reread the column. There. No hidden meaning. No lie. He really wanted to laugh again. It was a smack in the face from reality. The chuckles burst forth and were uncontrollable. He really couldn't breathe. He felt like crying, only the tears wouldn't come. It was all too fast for him to comprehend.

Then he finally calmed down and sat in silence. That quiet solitude was like a knife. It cut into him deeper because he now had time to absorb the information in. Sho. His brother. He was going to die. And so Ohno buried his head in his arms.

The paper dated back a week ago. Was Sho still alive? Was his brother still waiting for him?

He fought inside himself. He had cut himself off permanently, hadn't he? There were no buts about it. He couldn't go back. But the thought destroyed him because his emotions were overwhelming. How could he let Sho go? The countless drawings about his brother he still drew was proof. He had never did. He still had the precious drawings Sho had drawn.

After his shift, Ohno stumbled home. On his futon, he curled into a ball and could not go to sleep. He stayed awake all night. By morning, his eyes burned with lack of sleep. He told the landlord he couldn't go fishing today and he stayed on his futon for a few more hours.

And finally with trembling fingers, Ohno found the courage to pick up his phone and dial. The phone rang twice. Three times. Four. Then someone picked up. It was both a relief and a disaster.

"Hello? This is the Sakurai residence," a woman said on the other end.

His mother's voice. Ohno's vision blurred. His mother. He never thought he'd hear her again. And after all this time, just that sound made him realize how much he missed them. "M...mom..." That one line conveyed all his pent up emotions.

Mrs. Ohno was in the kitchen all alone. When she heard her son's voice after so many months, she could not believe it. She almost could not bring herself to hope. "Satoshi?" she whispered, as if saying it out loudly would make him vanish.

"Mom..." he repeated. He could not bring himself to say anything else. What words to say? How should he start? He had so much to tell her.

But just that one word was enough for Mrs. Ohno. She wept. "Satoshi, where are you!?"

When hearing her cries, Ohno could not hold back the feelings of sorrow and love that overpowered all else. "I--" he started, but she cut him off.

"Satoshi, come back. I'm sorry! Y-your mom is sorry! Come back my son!" If only she could tell him all she felt. All the sorrow. The guilt. The love. The worry. Thinking back and remembering over and over how she had pushed him to run away. "Y-you dumb boy! I don't hate you. None of us do. Just come back and forgive me..."

"Mom," he croaked, finding it hard to speak. "You haven't done anything. There's nothing to forgive. It's all my fault."

"NO! No way!" she yelled, shaking her head as if he could see. "Don't blame yourself! Come back here and let's talk. All of us! We can't live without you, Satoshi!"

"I can't," he muttered. He couldn't. Not after all he had done. Not after he had made a promise to himself.

"If you love me, then come back," Mrs. Ohno implored. "How can you let your mom live in pain and guilt? You must come back to us, Satoshi."

Because Ohno could not answer her, he changed the subject. He wiped his eyes and asked, "Mom, how's Sho?"

She paused for breath and then she said, "He's still waiting, Satoshi, but it will not be forever. It cannot be."

The words struck his heart. Ohno clutched the front of his shirt and closed his phone against the silence on the other end. How could he go? He couldn't. No way. He fought with himself for a second. He had to act soon. With an effort, Ohno pulled himself up and started packing.

By the time night fell again, he was no longer in the village.

Ohno sat in the train with his head pressed against the window and he thought about all that had happened. Becoming brothers with Sho. Arguing. Falling in love. Running away. Now his brother was dying and he was going back just to part forever. He couldn't comprehend it and Ohno hid his face under his coat the rest of the way.

Later, it must have been five in the morning when he stood facing the home he had abandoned close to one year ago. He realized he could not go in. After coming all this way, he was terrified of stepping into that world of pain and heartbreak again. He must have stood outside in the cold for more than an hour before turning back.

He couldn't return. Not into that past full of despair.

When he found a place to stay for the next few days, exhaustion took over and Ohno fell into a deep sleep thinking about his life, his family, Sho.

A dream came. The hospital appeared again.

He donned his white coat and thought that he knew this dream. He'd had it before. Yet, he couldn't clearly remember. Ohno sat in his office wondering what he should do. A pile of documents lay open on his desk. What was he supposed to do with them? Then the door opened and a nurse peeked in. "Dr. Ohno, you're going to miss your appointment if you don't leave soon."

"O-oh," he replied as his heart sank. He didn't even know what he was going on, but if he told her maybe she'd accuse of him of being an imposter and trespassing. So he stepped out and sneaked passed the other workers, trying to figure if he was going the right way. He was in big trouble, was't he? A patient may die because he did not have the qualifications to be a doctor.

"Dr. Ohno," a nurse walking from a room stated, startling him. He paused and turned around with a forced smile, pretending they were acquaintances because obviously they somehow were. He didn't even know her name, but it was best that she didn't realize that. She continued, "Doctor, Mrs. Sato has been waiting for a while."

Sato? He couldn't believe it. The nurse led him into a room where the old woman sat on a mattress waiting for him. She grinned up at him as he went to stand before her. The same woman who terrorized his nights while he worked. Apparently she was now intruding into his dreams as well.

"Doctor," the nurse said handing him a clipboard. Ohno saw tons of unrecognizable stuff on it. Darn. It just gets worse.

When she left, Mrs. Sato and Ohno were alone in the patient's room.

He cleared his throat and scanned the contents of the paper attached to the clipboard. He was in a panic, but there was no way she was going to know. What was he supposed to do again? Maybe he should have listened at the orientation. There had been such a thing, right? But eventually he understood that the paper explained Mrs. Sato's condition. Relief flooded him and Ohno looked up from the clipboard with relaxed shoulders.

"You're in good health, Mrs. Sato," he told her.

However, she stared at him in surprise. "Ohno, this isn't about me. What are you doing here?"

And it was his turn to stare at her. What was she saying?

Mrs. Sato pointed out the door. "I already showed you. You have to go to your brother."

He gasped and held his breath. How did she know about such a thing? Suddenly, the rush of anxiety came. He understood that Sho was dying. Sho was the patient who was waiting for him. All along.

Ohno turned and fled from the room. He ran through the corridor and ignored all those who passed him. He had to get to Sho. No one else mattered. Perspiration broke out on his body and his heart drummed in his ears. He had to get there on time!

It was like his own body was against him, gradually every step he took became slower. He had to put effort into moving one foot in front of the other. He remembered now. That same dream, the one he had forgotten after one year. Sho was leaving him forever.

"Sho!" Ohno screamed, as if his brother could hear him. As if the man would hold on and wait for him to get there.
But then as always, he heard the faltering breaths and the unsteady beat of Sho's heart, withering away. "Sho!" he cried again in anguish. Wait. Wait...

Sho disappeared. And Ohno fell into a heap in the now deserted corridor. The same ending. Every time.

His wet eyelids opened as he woke and blinked into the darkness of night pervading the hotel room. Ohno did not move as he lay on his back. He could feel the silent tears slipping down the corner of his eyes and he couldn't stop them. He knew now. He had the chance to see Sho. He could not turn back now. Not after fighting so hard.

The next morning he stood outside the Sakurai residence in the cold. He did not have enough courage to raise his hand and ring the doorbell. What would he say to his parents? How would he explain his actions? He was too ashamed to face them, but he had to see Sho. That was the only reason why he continued to stand there, lost in a daze.

Then the door swung open as his father stepped out to leave for work. Mr. Sakurai came face to face with his stepson whom he had not seen in almost a year and he stopped in disbelief. "Satoshi..."

"What's wrong?" Mrs. Ohno called from the kitchen.

Ohno gulped, suddenly afraid. His heart raced and he quickly bowed his head to his father like he was a random visitor who had found them at the wrong time. "D-dad--"

Mr. Sakurai stepped forward and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Stupid son," he muttered, thumping Ohno affectionately on the back.

That small action caused Ohno to realize how much he had come to love his stepfather. He had always seen Mr. Sakurai as his savior, but now he understood that the man was so much more. But what had he done to show that?
Ohno pulled away and went on his knees in front of Mr. Sakurai. "Dad, I'm sorry!" If only his father would forgive him for everything. For falling in love with Sho. For running away to avoid the problem.

"Satoshi..." Mrs. Ohno started. She had come to the door. Her hands immediately went up to cover her mouth, her disbelief.

Mr. Sakurai crouched down to level himself with Ohno. He clapped his son the shoulder. "Satoshi, are you finally coming back?"

"Dad." Ohno looked up into his face, the man he respected, the first person to return trust to him. "Dad, I and Sho--"

And his father smiled to encourage him. "Come on. Let's go see him."

Mrs. Ohno burst into uncontrollable tears and when the two men stood, she threw her arms around her son. "Satoshi!"

"Mom, I'm so sorry!" he cried, holding her, too.

All other things that had to be said could be saved for later. What they had done. What had occurred since. There would be time for the family, but not for Sho.

When I start to think of all the possiblities, all the ifs, I suddenly envy everyone around me.

Ohno stood alone in his brother's room, now barely recognizable. The bed had been shoved next to the window where sunlight streamed in. A gap was left where the medical equipment decorated the patient. The breathing mask. The IV drip. The machine that measured his heart rate. All sorts of wires ran along to meet his brother's form, laying still and silent on the bed.

Ohno could not believe it. This was the real thing. The real Sho. The patient. In the end, he had made it at last.

He crept forward, afraid everything would fall apart and disappear. When he reached the bedside, he reached out a hand to pull back the bangs from his brother's beloved face. Sho. The real Sho. Because it was too good to be true, yet because he knew there was no more time, Ohno felt his eyes burn again. He couldn't save his brother. It was all his fault, somehow. His fingers traveled down to caress Sho's face, the person he cared for so much but whom he had betrayed.

Then Sho stirred. A tentative hand reached up to grab his own and Sho opened his eyes. He stared into the face of Ohno and he croaked, "Satoshi." It was like a miracle all on its own.

Again, Ohno went on his knees and his fingers tightened around his brother's. There was so much he wanted to say, to apologize for. But then he said only one thing, the thing that mattered the most right then. He muttered to Sho, "Sho, I won't leave anymore. I'll stay here. Beside you. For the rest of our life." No matter how short that time may be.

At the moment that was all that really did matter.

On Sho's shoulders he buried his head so that his brother would not see him cry. He was so late. It was all too late. How could he let Sho go?

I envy others for just being themselves. I don't want to be his brother. Even a normal man would get his chance.
Just for us it's a different story.

Ohno had pulled a futon out and slept next to Sho's bed.

In the morning, he took his mother's role of feeding his brother. He would not leave Sho's side even for an instant. Every moment they spent together counted. Every single second. In the afternoon, Sho took his daily nap and so Ohno watched over him. After a while, he couldn't help feeling tired too and he fell asleep.

When he woke, he looked around him. He thought he was still in the village only to hear Sho groan and remember what had happened. He had come home. Finally. Immediately, Ohno went to his brother's side to check on him. Sho was awake. too.

Ohno leaned forward and asked gently, "Do you need anything?" If he could do anything for his brother. Sho shook his head slightly, then he opened his empty palm wanting something. Ohno reached out and took his hand and their fingers curled around each others. He gazed at Sho's face without speaking.

He thought about their situation. Sho. Himself. The sure tragic ending. And Ohno wished he had all the time in the world to stay beside Sho. If only he could start this life over. He would have never run away.

"Sho," he started suddenly, seating himself on the edge of the mattress next to the patient. Sho gave him all his attention and Ohno went on. "Don't you envy other people sometimes?"

His brother did not answer. Just stared at him listening.

"I don't want to be your brother. I did not want to love you, you know. But I do and it's the best thing that has ever happened to me. In the end, why're you like this? Don't you think someone up there is laughing at us?" There. The questions with no answer. "Sho," Ohno continued, his overwhelming emotions beginning to surface. "In the future when I'm alone and I see happy couples walking around, I think I will hate them." To think that his brother and he never had a chance together. It was enough to make someone hate the world.

In response, Sho caressed Ohno's hand with his thumb. He took a deep breath and mumbled, "Satoshi... there's something..." Ohno waited while he took another breath and said, "...something I want to tell you."

"What is it?" Ohno asked. His grip tightened.

A knock at the door broke into the moment. Mrs. Ohno peered in. She saw them and said, "The doctor's here, Satoshi, Sho."

Ohno nodded and stood. He was about to pull away but Sho's fingers gripped his own harshly and he realized his brother did not want to part from him. All right. Ohno perched on the edge of the bed again as a stranger in a white coat stepped in.

"Pardon me," he stated when he saw them. "I'm going to do the daily checkup."

He proceeded and went through the routine. Because he was in the way, Ohno had to let go of his brother and step back. He sat at Sho's desk and watched as the doctor bent over Sho.

"How is he doing?" Ohno mumbled a few minutes later. He couldn't stand to watch quietly any more.

The doctor glanced at him wordlessly. Then he turned to Sho and said, "There's no point in stalling, Sakurai. If you are to tell him, then do it today. Don't drag this on."

It had not been directed at Ohno, but he heard it all clearly and became confused. Did this have anything to do with what Sho wanted to tell him? What? That he actually had less time than previously thought? That his condition was only getting worse?

With fear in his heart, Ohno continued to watch them because he could not bring himself to speak.

The doctor looked into Sho's eyes and asked, "Did you want me to say it? Yeah? Okay."

Then he moved back from the patient and turned to face Ohno who he had ignored all this time. He declared, "Mr. Sakurai has perfect health."

This only confused Ohno more. The doctor gestured for Ohno to approach.

Once more, Ohno went to perch himself on the edge of Sho's mattress. Immediately, Ohno reached out to take Sho's hand. "What do you mean? Is anything wrong?"

The doctor crossed his arms. "Hm..." His eyes darted to the patient next to Ohno. "That's the issue. It's a big problem."

Ohno narrowed his brows in confusion. The man was not clear. Did that mean that Sho was in danger? His grip on his brother's hand tightened. "It's bad?" Oh, please let it be something else. He was not ready to let go of his brother yet.

"That's the thing..."

Mrs. Ohno reappeared at the doorway. She stood there silently, watching all of them. Her eyes fell on Sho, then she looked away.

The doctor tapped his own chin with a finger in contemplation. "My name is Yamada. I am the cousin of Mr. Sakurai's coworker."

Ohno did not understand. That only made it harder to follow. What was this doctor getting at?

"One day, my cousin begged me to help. I only did so as a very special favor."

"I don't get--" Ohno started.

The man spread his arms wide to indicate the whole room. "Mr. Satoshi. I'm telling you, this is all fake. And the news article. There was only one copy printed."

And as Ohno was trying to take this all in, from beside him Sho sat up in bed pulling the needles out of his arm. Shock froze Ohno. Sho wrapped his arms around Ohno from the side. He pressed their bodies together and said, "Don't envy others because I swear that we will be together, Satoshi."

* * *

Conclusion!! LAST: The World Created