[Fic] - The Hard Way - chapter 10 (Final) part 3
part 3
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He looked the same really, well almost, same except for the further hallowed cheeks, the paled skin, slightly longer hair with the yellow bits now quite lowered, shallow breathing patterns and the sleepy, dazed looking eyes finding it hard to focus.
How long has it been? he thought when he couldn’t move his feet then dreaded with the fact that maybe he wasn’t going to feel them ever again. What happened? Was his next silent question, he could not remember last time he was in complete control of his eyelids which seemed to be closing on their own. Why the hell is it so white and… spacious? was the last question amongst many others as he was certain that his house, his room didn’t posses such large areas, let alone this clean.
Next his ability to hear has returned, even if partially. He could sort out a distant beeping noise which annoyed him as if he was listening to it for days. Then it was a soft snore by his right. Sister his brain told him but he was unsure of formulating any sentences to call out to her. His mind felt blank, he parted and wet his lips, he moved his fingers which was the only parts of his body other than his sore throat which he could sense. He tried moving around but gave up soon enough. It was all too much, with the increasing headache and hunger which was surprising since he also felt nauseous. He decided to rest, his throat making a low whine as he fell asleep again.
The second time he managed to crack open an eye, blurred images of what he thought was his sister came in his view. She jerked with a sudden movement, unable to choose between jumping on him and running to get the doctor. Ren was glad when she picked the latter option. A skinny man in white got in an instant. He spoke of something, clearly asking questions but the beaten up boy couldn’t tell whether they were directed at him or his sister. He couldn’t understand a word he was hearing. Then he panicked. His brain not registering his actions, he moved to get up. The doctor was still talking; he was still ordering him to do something but the more he failed to understand, the more he freaked out. He heard the beeping sound; he heard the gibberish language so why couldn’t he comprehend the said words?
The similar panic which by now found its way to his sister’s face expressed a thousand words he was yet to distinguish at that moment. There was something wrong with him. A problem in his brain; had he lost his ability to hear? No. Speech? Yes. He was not able to utter a single word. He knew what he wanted to ask but the letters didn’t fit together; the simplest sentence ever what is wrong? would not leave his mouth.
Finally the doctor took the initiative and pressed his shoulders down with his palm, his dark eyes directly connected with Ren’s brown ones’s. Once he was sure that Ren wasn’t going on frenzy, the doctor moved his lips slowly, calm down, it’s alright but Ren had to take a wild guess at what was being said.
Ren shot the doctor a murderous glare daring him to calm down when he was the one in his position. He hoped his eyes could send the message across. The doctor attempted to spell out a It’s temporary yet Ren was already mentally out of his reach.
As a last resort the doctor hit the sedative’s button which showed an effect immediately in having Ren’s chaotic consciousness crumbling into darkness and hence relaxed his tense body accordingly. His older sister was panicking hazardously, nervous to learn the dreadful news about her only sibling. Doctor Shin Sawada took a deep breath into his lungs before facing the distressed woman. It was a delicate situation and thus it required a sincere, open explanation as to how it was likely that Ren’s brain was trying to coop with his surroundings, to catch up to his body. Keeping a slow paced, gentle and most importantly hopeful tone, he continued on; Ren had been in a coma for awhile, a little more than eight days to be specific, which rendered his mind unable to understand or answer in return for the time being.
The doctor also added that it was a temporary stage and that there were no permanent damage detected in the brain. It might take some time he had said but he will regain his abilities back eventually. Just be patient with him.
The woman had sunk to chair, her eyes burning deep holes into Ren’s chest. She was thinking and pushing herself to avoid a very possible depression, the doctor thought; she was pushing herself to remain strong. Especially after the joy of seeing him awake, to endure witnessing the desperation and hurt in Ren’s frantic movements… he felt sorry for her. No parents, no stable job, yet they had so much care and love. Shin wondered briefly if he hadn’t met his wife, would he have end up in a hospital bed fighting for his life? Would there be anyone crying for him? His sister maybe but that would be about it. Despite having parents, he couldn’t see them visiting him. He wouldn’t have his friends there for him either. Suddenly he felt grateful and called his yakuza of a wife to inform her on Ren’s awakening. Next he let the nurses to call the injured boy’s boyfriend on his account; the one with light brunette hair who seemed to have his world fall apart upon arriving at the hospital.
Which one? The nurses asked. The doctor had to think on it for about a second and answered “Ogata Yamato”
The boy must have flown over to reach the room that fast. Then again he must have been in the reception hall to begin with, Shin figured. Ogata bombarded him with questions and about why Ren was still unconscious. The doctor drew in a secondary deep breath and explained the situation over again in a similar manner. Young boy asked then, completely collected “He is gonna be fine, yeah?”
“Yes,” Shin answered without hesitation “he will.”
It was over fifteen minutes for the rest of the group whom he had seen from day one to appear one by one in the hospital. To his surprise Odagiri Ryu had arrived later than everyone else. He had even witnessed the annoying boy, Hayato-or-something to call him a few times, worry evident in his voice. And when Ryu did arrive he had a shorter friend with him, Take he remembered. For some reason Take reminded him of Noda. He couldn’t put his finger on why though, maybe other than the obvious girly accessories they both carried.
Odagiri was fidgeting in his spot clearly not wanting to be present in the hallway. Shin had seen it all at some point in his work of line; Odagiri was blaming himself for Ren’s injury and now was reluctant in seeing him at all. So that’s why Take was with him, to make sure the brunette didn’t escape.
It didn’t take long before Ren woke up again and in a few days he had regained his speech as predicted. As expected he had hard time remembering words from time to time. Shin observed his healing closely and to his surprise one afternoon Kuma came out of nowhere, carrying trays of food from his restaurant all the while complaining about subjecting sick people to bad food in hospital where they needed his’.
The moment Kuma spotted Shin, he was drawn into a bear hug which he had failed to avoid and after hearing from his old friend, the doctor was very glad that he was of help to one of Kuma’s friends.
What he didn’t expect to see was his wife appearing and giving them all a lecture on friendships and loyalty which resulted in her getting kicked out of the room by Ren’s request. Shin didn’t bother stopping the tall dark skinned guy dragging her out even though the young boy was very hesitant in doing so at the beginning. It must be the fear of taking a beating, Shin mused, and he remembered that fear.
He laughed with the boys fooling around as Ren left the hospital now that he was good to continue on his own. He had healed fast since waking up in a few weeks and was to return for physiotherapy once in awhile. Shin decided to join in for those and observe his progress himself. It must have been the highlights on Ren’s hair that got him to like the boy.
That night as Ren rested in his own house, Doctor Shin Sawada called his friends for a night out. With Kuma’s side of the story and how he knew the younger brats, they shared their stories. He even made Noda attack him with his scarf when he pointed out the shared girly accessories Noda had with Take. That in return caused Uchi to fall out of his chair in laughing hysterics, yet again. Minami seemed to simply enjoy observing their stupidity from his corner. It was a nice guy’s out night until his wife captured them for a sake-night in the couples big house along with rest of the house hold, then it just got better.
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It had been more than a week, Odagiri Ryu noticed, not that he was counting his days without Ren’s presence. He had got over his fear and guilt about his doings with Hayato where Ren was busy with being hospitalized. Yet, when he got the call from Take about Ren, he knew he couldn’t face his soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend. As a result Ryu was dragged out of his room and into the hospital. Upon his arrival, even the doctor had casted him a sympathetic gaze despite him deciding to inform Yamato prior to Ryu. He deliberately evaded the doctor’s eyes and focused on Ren.
It was a shock to him when Ren couldn’t voice a single word. It also seemed as if he didn’t have the energy even to panic about it. So until he received the explanation from Ogata, he stood on the edge of a cliff ready to jump off. Later with enough self strength, he held the bed ridden boy’s arm, not his hand as Ren appeared mutually pleased with his choice.
It was understandable of course. Ren went to the end of the world, had wondered on the borders of life and death. His true feelings were now dominant, just as his desire for Ogata. It was always, it had always been Ogata, Ryu thought bitterly. He was half heartbroken over this fact and half relieved. At least one of them had the chance to be with the one he loved where for Ryu it was impossible. He could barely look at Ren, he had not even spoken to Hayato after the incident and for once or twice, Hayato had kept his distance making it easier for Ryu to avoid looking back.
Over the days he slowly let Ren go and even pushed him towards Ogata as they seemed incapable of accepting each other maybe because of his existence or maybe simply because of the fear of rejection. Ryu decreased the number of his visits to Ren and encouraged Ogata to accompany Ren-now-his-ex-boyfriend to his doctor visits. When did they break up?
Ryu was sure during one of their silent eye conversations, they had agreed in ending it. The pleading look on Ren’s face and the guilty conscious in Ryu’s heart was more than enough to shake their senses. Hence the older brunette knew it was time Ogata had accepted his feelings and stood by Ren’s side. It had definitely made Ren happy and Ryu was aware that his ex-boyfriend’s gaze which spoke millions of words, all meaning the same, all referring to the same subject; It wasn’t your fault, Thank you for letting me go, You deserve someone who loves you, Go to him, Love him, Care for him, I forgave you, Just be happy
Ryu was touched by Ren’s gesture. They were soul mates after all, sharing a strong unbreakable bond, him and Ren but their heart’s wanted another. And what the heart said, the heart got. Ren for Ogata, him for Hayato…
As he made his way out of the hospital and out of Ren’s love-life, he was greeted by his fear in the park he chose to rest in long tough days. Hayato was sprawled over the bench Ryu usually sat on and had fallen asleep waiting for him. An uninvited guest as usual, Ryu thought. He wanted to leave before Hayato woke up but his feet refused to move instead he crouched down watching his face like an old pervert.
Just once, he promised himself, just one more time and he would leave his heart with Hayato, departing. He eyed the older boy’s plump lips hungrily then moved upwards, to his cheekbones and his smooth skin, next was his closed eyes apparently in a blissful dream, away from earthly troubles.
“Hayato” he whispered letting the name linger on his lips as he played with the dark brunette’s hair, enjoying the soft touch. He wasn’t intending on waking him up. Just say a simple goodbye. So he leaned in and pressed his lips to Hayato’s temple then put his forehead on his.
“Goodbye” Despite having promised himself, he didn’t leave. Instead leaned in even more forward holding his hand where their rings touched and clinked. He let out a frustrated sigh at his powerlessness to walk away, to keep one promise to himself.
A small part of Ryu wanted Hayato up so that he could stop Ryu but the idiot was still fast asleep. So he sat down on the ground in front of Hayato. “Idiot” he murmured, expressing his feeling openly while resting his head on Hayato’s arm.
The sun was shining on them. An unusually warm, bright day it was. Dozing off, Ryu sat by the bench sunbathing. Peaceful, wasn’t it? How long would this last he wondered.
The hand beneath his head wriggled a bit. Ryu didn’t care for it. Then the arm ceased its movement, its owner realizing the origin of the heaviness on it. A low chuckle followed by a sigh was heard. Ryu ignored that too; if Hayato wanted solitude he should not have pick Ryu’s place in the entire city.
The hand crawled its way to the sitting boy’s hair, stroking it slowly, hesitantly, almost afraid of seeing what’s underneath disappear. Ryu enjoyed the ministrations. The doubt in his feelings was still there, yes but it felt a little less lonely with him around. The complexity of his troubles which were mounted on his shoulders was dissolving, allowing him to breathe once again, properly.
Did he really not deserve such care, sincerity? He had let Ren go, not that he could have held him back if the decision was made but nevertheless he even tried to get his ex-boyfriend and Ogata together. He wasn’t so bad, was he? Then again if it wasn’t for him the duo would not have any obstacles to begin with. Hold on! Wasn’t it his and Ren’s relationship which got Ogata and Hayato’s attention and in return boost their jealousy and protectiveness over them? Well, more like possessiveness. They all had been mediated by them leading to the current turn of events. Yet both Ryu and Ren was hospitalized, gangs had fought, injuries had been made and probable expulsion was made imminent during the process.
Ryu’s head hurt. Eyebrows furrowed, making Hayato to flinch whom had failed to sneak his fingers further down Ryu’s shirt. He heard the boy behind to clear his throat. It sounded ragged.
“Are you mad?” Ryu took his time before answering to that fairly obvious question. As Hayato grew restless, the light brunette chuckled inwardly. He yawned, stretched his long arms suddenly grabbing Hayato’s head on both sides which was already leaning in towards Ryu. Hayato surpassed a smirk as he locked his eyes with the younger boy’s expressionless ones. Hands were now resting upon the thin biceps keeping the fingers around his neck steady.
“No” Ryu said causing Hayato to jump backwards as if burned “Idiot! I meant as in no, I am not mad.”
“Oh” the dark haired boy sighed, amusement and relief making its way back to his voice. Ryu rested his hands on his thighs with a soft smile which went unnoticed by the other one. “So...” he started but didn’t resume his sentence instead observed the earth under his feet keenly.
“So,” was the same reply with a bit more enthusiasm. Hayato glanced around a bit and shrugged his shoulders impatiently “Oh, screw that!”
Ryu should have seen that coming by now but as his companion grabbed his chin, pulled the boy’s face upwards, reaching down at the same time himself, Ryu was very much surprised. Despite the abrupt start and the awkward position, their lips found each other almost naturally. The kiss itself was mostly reluctant but sincere. Hayato didn’t pour his heart into it, didn’t let his emotions carry on themselves and turn what’s pure into forceful or vigorous. He just savoured it like it was their first time; have let it be a symbol which they would not be forgetting. No pushing, no pulling; he only expressed his intentions, wishes and genuineness.
He wasn’t going to be the one to decide this time, the answers laid with Ryu.
The moment they parted, dazed and panting, Ryu knew that Hayato wasn’t trying to force a relation on him just because he was no longer bound to someone else. This time, unlike the last one, he was asking for permission. NO! was the answer in his head so Ryu did what he only could with that; he shut down his brain, locked it into a chest and high kicked it all the way into the horizon until nothing but a shiny glimpse of it was left to be seen.
He laughed out loud at his remark, startling Hayato who had became a shipwreck due to the lack of explanation and the constant giggling in front of him. Ryu laughed some more at his own sea references as he thought how much of a fish Hayato resembled with his confused expression.
“We should visit the beach someday!” he exclaimed.
“Sure…” Hayato said sceptical “Hang on! So are we…? Or are we…?” Ryu understood the question despite the blanks and gazed at the boy half curiously, half lovingly. It was rare to witness his oh-so-strong and fearless leader to blush and to stutter like a teenage high school girl facing her big crush. Oh yes; he liked that idea.
Ryu viewed and memorised the cheerfulness/shyness/possessiveness to spread over the other one’s eyes; his new boyfriend’s? He was still pondering on the word itself when he was swapped into an one armed, bone crashing hug from above.
Hayato buried his head in Ryu’s neck, hand gripping his chest.
“You are not that happy, are you?” the light brunette asked.
“Don’t joke about it!” was his best friends reply “You are truly evil, I tell you! You are the devil; Even worse than me!”
“Thank you for the compliment! Is this really how you wanna start a relationship; with accusing me of being a devil?” He had spoken right into Hayato’s ear through the messy dark locks making him shiver. The leader spirit didn’t let the boy to talk back other than with an unwavering, harsh voice.
“You: my lover. Me: your lover. Yes you are the devil for making me wait this long, yet again. Yes, you are evil because you clearly enjoy torturing me since you have taken your sweet time in looking at my direction, let alone to talk to me!”
“Ah, sorry about that. I was, you know, busy feeling like shit and was in the process of figuring out a way to feel even guiltier.” Ryu was only half joking when he said that.
“You should have asked me.” Hayato said “I would have given you reasons. You just needed to acknowledge me, that’s all”
“I… sorry” His bangs shadowing his eyes, Ryu gulped audibly and stared at his knees intensely.
“You are not doing it!”
“What? What do you want me to do?” The arms around him squished him unconsciously; an act of dread?
“I am up here, Ryu-chan. I have always been. God, how many more barriers you still have to pass to reach out to the real world? To me? I have been on your trail, almost non-stop. Yet you were running away; away from me. The more I was unsuccessful to catch you, the more frustrated I grew but that didn’t prevent me from trying. So why are you yet to come to my side when even you have agreed to it?”
“I don’t know how to!” Ryu yelled breaking their connection. He leapt out of his hold, cheeks flushed and chest heaving heavy.
“Then” Hayato started with a gentle tone swiftly as he sat up properly on the bench “I’ll teach you. Just don’t go running away on your own.” The boy scratched his head unable to think of anything more comforting to say.
“That’s what I’ve attempted to say… that I’ll try.”
“Good.” Ryu knelt before Hayato, steadying himself by holding the older boy’s knees and gaze directed at his hands. Hayato smiled warily, instantly reaching for the hands. Then he moved to take hold of Ryu’s cheek and shoulder. Only after a second he planted a chaste kiss on the latter boy’s head, smelling the sweet scent and getting lost in it even for a second.
“Before anything else. I gotta let you in on something, Ryu-chan; I will make sure you fully understand the consequences of your actions.”
“Ha?” was all Ryu could mutter as Hayato smirked evilly, pulling him by neck. He rose a bit on his knees as he got closer to the dominant boy. The rest was a blur; he vaguely remembered being drawn into a hug between Hayato’s legs then up to his lap all the while being glued to Hayato, lost in the sensation he had thought was long lost. His lips never ceased moving, his fingers found their way to the dark brunette’s hair and face where he could feel rough handling on his backside and thighs. He lifted his head, taking in everything that is Hayato including his lust filled gaze, ragged breathing and intoxicating scent. Then he closed his eyes to fully experience the moment, allowing Hayato to show him the way; it had been some time…
It was like a bloody déjà vu though as the damned phone started to buzz in his trousers. Oh how Hayato wished it was not the phone but Ryu himself.
Both boys were stunned at their spots, Ryu opening the phone with a pang in his heart, without delay. “Yes?”
“Hey, we are off to grab some lunch, wanna join?” It was Ren’s chirpy voice, Ryu mused his forehead falling on to Hayato’s. He smiled.
“Want lunch?” he asked his companion. Seeing the relieved face Hayato also released his breath, head dropping on Ryu’s chest. “I am already having it and so are you.”
“We’ll join for desserts only, later on.” Ryu answered on the phone, voice low and eyes diluted.
“Take your time” Ren said sensing an intense moment. “yeah, you too.”
With that the phone was closed and dropped down. Now the two boys were staring at each other on the same eye level.
Both started to laugh to their hearts content “Oh, dear…”
“Lunch, huh!” When their joy subsided, they once again fall into each other’s embrace, touch and care with more delicacy and passion this time around.
Continue;
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