[Chaptered] Landslide (Chapter 3)
Title: Landslide
Author: shiroikazex
Pairing: Hikaru x OC
Genre: Angst, romance
Rating: PG
Summary: Set roughly 10 years or so into the future. He has somehow managed to hold on to the two things he loved the most, but for how much longer?
Note: Dum dee dum dum doo. Short chapter but!!
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter -4 | Chapter 2
“…Hypoglycemia (A/N: Have a Wikipedia link), that was likely the main cause. You should be aware of this condition--"
"Yes, we've been here several times but the doctors never regarded it as a serious problem. She has always carried some sweets with her in case it hit, though."
"She apparently tumbled down the stairs down the slope… fainted, possibly, and just collapsed. Minor bruising, no significant organ damage.”
"She didn't eat dinner last night."
"That would be a likely explanation, though it may also be possible that her condition is becoming more pronounced. We'll monitor her stats for these two days and run some tests. You can collect them after she is discharged."
“…Thanks sensei. I’ll leave her in your care then.”
“Yes, Yaotome-san.”
The doctor closes the door with a soft click as he goes out of the ward. He casts his eyes over to her--lying on the single bed in the executive ward, pale, but breathing. He turns to leave.
“You’re not staying?” her mother asks accusingly, cradling a terrified Satomi in her arms.
“Can’t, sorry. I have something really important on,” he squats in front of the old lady and ruffles Satomi’s hair gently. “Papa will pick you up from obaa-chan’s place later, alright? Be a good girl.”
He ignores the barely audible whimpering from the hospital bed as he exits the ward.
Clean hospital room. The attempt at masking the smell of disinfectant in the air with lavender fails pathetically and she wrinkles her nose. She vaguely recalls a sharp pain to her abdomen and head, and the next thing she could remember was looking up into the face of her elder sister.
“You’re awake?”
She sits up gingerly. Her bones creak and her muscles ache, but with a little help from Riko, she is propped up against her pillows and for the first time-consciously, at least-she looks around the room, finding it empty apart from the two of them.
“How long have I been here?”
“Just one night. You passed out, or so they say. Took a bad fall.”
“…at the slope in front of the convenience store. I… I don’t remember, I think my legs just gave way-“
“Yeah, apparently so. Your hypoglycemia acted up, or something like that. What were you doing out so late?”
“I think… I think I was getting something for Satomi-“
Satomi.
“-Oh my god, where’s she? I didn’t go home so-”
“She’s with Kaa-chan at home, don't worry. Hikaru brought her over here last night and Kaa-chan brought her home.”
“Oh. Where is he?”
She knows the answer before she even hears it.
“Work.”
“Probably has some… big set-up today to film.”
“Rei, did something happen?”
“Nothing. It’s fine.”
“Did you guys fight?”
“No, not really.”
“I know Kaa-chan said some pretty terrible things-“
“Nothing is going on. When can I leave?”
“Tomorrow, maybe? I’ll go check with the doctor.”
“Sorry sir, but visiting hours are over.”
“But I had important things on-please try to understand.”
“Our patients need adequate rest, Yaotome-san, it’s hospital regulations. Your wife will be discharged tomorrow and you can see her then.”
“I-I understand. I’m sorry.”
The nurse bows curtly and turns down the hallway, just as Reika’s mother rounds the corner.
“You.”
“Okaa-san,” he greets her with a shallow bow.
“She’s coming to live with us for a while, since you’re so busy,” she sighs. “It’ll help… ease your schedule clashes, I believe”
“That’s really not necessary, we're managing fine-“
“I don't think so. It’s just better for all of us. Satomi’s coming too.”
“Okaa-san, this is too drastic-“
“Goodnight, Yaotome-san, you should get some early rest.”
“…Yes. I’ll come pick her up tomorrow.”
The old lady crinkles her nose and nods tersely.
“Fine. Drive her over before dinner. You can join us if you like.”
“Thank you.”
She watches as he wordlessly loads her small suitcase into the back of their car and slams down the boot with more force than necessary. Satomi sits in the backseat, dozing quietly.
He walks over to the passenger side, lays a hand on the car handle and looks her in the eye.
“How long are you…”
“I don’t know. A week or two.”
He chuckles, suppressing a yawn and she cringes at his obvious eye bags.
“Yeah, well, I don’t know how this is supposed to help me but-“
“We’ll see. It’ll be quieter. You can focus on work more.”
“I don’t want to do work at home though-“
“You had a music studio built under the garage,” she sighed. “Please stop trying to pretend that you’re-nevermind.”
He blinks, and she swallows her regret at having said that. She feels his fingers graze her cheek as he tucks a loose lock of hair from her hair bun behind her ear.
“Try not to miss me too much,” he jokes with a strained grin. “I… I won’t either.”
“I’m sure. Too busy.”
“Reika, I was jok-“
“We’re going to be late.”
He yanks the car door open and she slips in. Moments later they pull out of the driveway and head down the road. She crosses her arms just as his hand reaches over for hers. Out of the corner of her eye, she spots his other hand tightening around the steering wheel.
The wedding band on her ring finger has never felt so heavy.
Author: shiroikazex
Pairing: Hikaru x OC
Genre: Angst, romance
Rating: PG
Summary: Set roughly 10 years or so into the future. He has somehow managed to hold on to the two things he loved the most, but for how much longer?
Note: Dum dee dum dum doo. Short chapter but!!
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter -4 | Chapter 2
“…Hypoglycemia (A/N: Have a Wikipedia link), that was likely the main cause. You should be aware of this condition--"
"Yes, we've been here several times but the doctors never regarded it as a serious problem. She has always carried some sweets with her in case it hit, though."
"She apparently tumbled down the stairs down the slope… fainted, possibly, and just collapsed. Minor bruising, no significant organ damage.”
"She didn't eat dinner last night."
"That would be a likely explanation, though it may also be possible that her condition is becoming more pronounced. We'll monitor her stats for these two days and run some tests. You can collect them after she is discharged."
“…Thanks sensei. I’ll leave her in your care then.”
“Yes, Yaotome-san.”
The doctor closes the door with a soft click as he goes out of the ward. He casts his eyes over to her--lying on the single bed in the executive ward, pale, but breathing. He turns to leave.
“You’re not staying?” her mother asks accusingly, cradling a terrified Satomi in her arms.
“Can’t, sorry. I have something really important on,” he squats in front of the old lady and ruffles Satomi’s hair gently. “Papa will pick you up from obaa-chan’s place later, alright? Be a good girl.”
He ignores the barely audible whimpering from the hospital bed as he exits the ward.
Clean hospital room. The attempt at masking the smell of disinfectant in the air with lavender fails pathetically and she wrinkles her nose. She vaguely recalls a sharp pain to her abdomen and head, and the next thing she could remember was looking up into the face of her elder sister.
“You’re awake?”
She sits up gingerly. Her bones creak and her muscles ache, but with a little help from Riko, she is propped up against her pillows and for the first time-consciously, at least-she looks around the room, finding it empty apart from the two of them.
“How long have I been here?”
“Just one night. You passed out, or so they say. Took a bad fall.”
“…at the slope in front of the convenience store. I… I don’t remember, I think my legs just gave way-“
“Yeah, apparently so. Your hypoglycemia acted up, or something like that. What were you doing out so late?”
“I think… I think I was getting something for Satomi-“
Satomi.
“-Oh my god, where’s she? I didn’t go home so-”
“She’s with Kaa-chan at home, don't worry. Hikaru brought her over here last night and Kaa-chan brought her home.”
“Oh. Where is he?”
She knows the answer before she even hears it.
“Work.”
“Probably has some… big set-up today to film.”
“Rei, did something happen?”
“Nothing. It’s fine.”
“Did you guys fight?”
“No, not really.”
“I know Kaa-chan said some pretty terrible things-“
“Nothing is going on. When can I leave?”
“Tomorrow, maybe? I’ll go check with the doctor.”
“Sorry sir, but visiting hours are over.”
“But I had important things on-please try to understand.”
“Our patients need adequate rest, Yaotome-san, it’s hospital regulations. Your wife will be discharged tomorrow and you can see her then.”
“I-I understand. I’m sorry.”
The nurse bows curtly and turns down the hallway, just as Reika’s mother rounds the corner.
“You.”
“Okaa-san,” he greets her with a shallow bow.
“She’s coming to live with us for a while, since you’re so busy,” she sighs. “It’ll help… ease your schedule clashes, I believe”
“That’s really not necessary, we're managing fine-“
“I don't think so. It’s just better for all of us. Satomi’s coming too.”
“Okaa-san, this is too drastic-“
“Goodnight, Yaotome-san, you should get some early rest.”
“…Yes. I’ll come pick her up tomorrow.”
The old lady crinkles her nose and nods tersely.
“Fine. Drive her over before dinner. You can join us if you like.”
“Thank you.”
She watches as he wordlessly loads her small suitcase into the back of their car and slams down the boot with more force than necessary. Satomi sits in the backseat, dozing quietly.
He walks over to the passenger side, lays a hand on the car handle and looks her in the eye.
“How long are you…”
“I don’t know. A week or two.”
He chuckles, suppressing a yawn and she cringes at his obvious eye bags.
“Yeah, well, I don’t know how this is supposed to help me but-“
“We’ll see. It’ll be quieter. You can focus on work more.”
“I don’t want to do work at home though-“
“You had a music studio built under the garage,” she sighed. “Please stop trying to pretend that you’re-nevermind.”
He blinks, and she swallows her regret at having said that. She feels his fingers graze her cheek as he tucks a loose lock of hair from her hair bun behind her ear.
“Try not to miss me too much,” he jokes with a strained grin. “I… I won’t either.”
“I’m sure. Too busy.”
“Reika, I was jok-“
“We’re going to be late.”
He yanks the car door open and she slips in. Moments later they pull out of the driveway and head down the road. She crosses her arms just as his hand reaches over for hers. Out of the corner of her eye, she spots his other hand tightening around the steering wheel.
The wedding band on her ring finger has never felt so heavy.