Silence Among Noise

Summary: Eiji Kikumaru went to the hospital where his world was turned upside down. How will this acrobat cope with his new way of living? GoldenPair.

CHAPTER 1

It was dark out. Eiji had just finished tennis practice and was walking home. He decided to take a short cut through the alley, knowing it would save him a good twenty minutes of walking.

Eiji turned the corner and saw a group of guys all huddled together. They looked over to him. He pretended not to notice and kept looking forward. As he passed them one of them spoke up.

"What's the matter kid?" A tall guy in black snickered. "You lost?"

Eiji paused but continued walking.

"Are you deaf or something?" The guy asked. "I asked you a question!"

Eiji kept walking.

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-LATER THAT NIGHT-

Oishi, Fuji and Tezuka were all studying for a Geography test at Tezuka's place.

"What is declination?" Oishi read the flash card.

"The difference between True North and Magnetic North." Fuji responded. Oishi turned the card over.

"Yep."

"Oishi, if you flew from Tokyo to Hong Kong, departing at noon heading West, and the flight time is five hours, what is your ETA?" Tezuka asked.

Oishi only thought about it for a second.

"Six pm." Oishi said. "Or 18:00."

"Do you think he will ask for the military time?" Fuji asked.

"Possibly. Put both just in case." Oishi smiled.

The phone suddenly rang. Tezuka answered it.

"Moshi-moshi?" Tezuka paused. "Kikumaru-san?"

Oishi and Fuji both looked up. What was Eiji's mom calling Tezuka for?

"Hai…… What happened? …….…….. Hai……. Is he alright?"

Oishi and Fuji started to get worried.

"We are on our way." Tezuka said as he hung up the phone. "We are going to the hospital."

………………………………

"Tezuka, what happened to Eiji?" Fuji asked in the car on the way.

"Apparently on his way home he got attacked by a group of guys." Tezuka said.

"What?!" Oishi exclaimed. "Is he alright?!"

"They are not sure." Tezuka said. "Fuji…"

"On it." Fuji said, pulling out his phone and calling the other regulars.

They pulled up to the hospital, and rushed in. All of Eiji's siblings were standing in the waiting room. His oldest brother recognized the boys first.

"He is in stable condition now." he said. "I will take you to him. Follow me." He led the three down the hallway of the Trauma Center. He stopped at a room and opened the door.

Inside they saw Eiji's mother sitting next to her youngest son. He was sleeping on the hospital bed. Eiji didn't look good. He had cuts and bruises all over, but the most noticeable thing was the large dressing that went over his head, down the sides of his face and under him chin, completely covering his ears. There was still dried blood on his upper lip where his nose obviously bled. A small black eye was forming on his left eye and there was an abrasion on his cheek, forehead and shoulder. His patient gown was open and there were many wires attached to him that led to the EKG. His chest slowly went up and down as he breathed through the oxygen mask.

Looking at a bruise on his chest, Fuji noticed something.

"They hit him with his own racket." Fuji said.

"Huh?" Oishi asked.

"Look at this bruise." He said. "It's the shape of the rim of a tennis racket. Long with little holes down the middle."

"Yes." Eiji's mother said. "My poor baby was found in a alley by a good Samaritan who brought him here. The doctors said he looked like he was moments from death but once he was wrapped up he started improving."

"Well that's good." Fuji said. "Still, he looks pretty weak."

"The doctor said that there might be some hidden damage, but we will only know when he wakes up." She said.

"How is he?"

The three turned to the door to see the rest of the tennis team, looking worried.

"He is still asleep." Fuji said.

"Man he doesn't look good." Momo said. "Who did this to him?"

"A bunch of punks if you ask me." Kaido seethed.

The team stayed for almost two hours before the hospital's visiting hours ended.

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-TWO DAYS LATER-

Eiji groaned at the pain he felt in his head and all over. His back felt cramped up from being in one position too long. He slowly opened his eyes. The window let in too much light and he was temporarily blinded from it, but his eyes adjusted. He looked around.

He was in the hospital. It was very quiet. He din't even hear any noise out in the hallway. The board on the wall in front of him had his name on it, a few doctors' names and the date.

"It's Thursday?" He asked himself, confused.

Someone must have heard him because the door opened and someone came in.

"Eiji, you are awake!" Oishi said as he came in. "You had us all worried."

Eiji looked confused. Fuji followed Oishi in.

"How are you doing, Eiji?" He asked.

Eiji looked even more confused.

"What's going on?" He asked, nervous.

"You have been under for two days now." Oishi said. "Do you remember?"

Eiji's eyes started to tear up.

"Why… Why can't I hear you?"

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Dun Dun Dun…

Next chapter coming soon!