Title: Somewhere In The Middle
By Darkestforever
Couple: Junjou Terrorist/ Junjou Egoist
Disclaimer: All characters featured in this story are the creative property of the managaka who loving drew the Junjou universe. I would like to thank the amazing Musicians of the world who gifted me the inspirational music that gave rise to this these stories
Summary:
These accompanying short stories to 'In This Life', which explains what happened after Nowaki, attempted to take his own life. Focusing on the events that occur behind the scenes in 'In This Life'; showing how Miyagi to forms a friendship with Nowaki. How Nowaki learns to cope with his grief and learn that even after death life has to continue because sometimes fate has more in-store for us than we can imagine...
Warning... this story hasn't been beta-read as my girl is swamped with work. As I am waiting for her to get back to me with the next chapter of In This Life, I decided to upload the raw form of this to bide time. Second part of Somewhere in the Middle should be up by Friday. I am hopeful that In This Life will be online by next week at the latest. Tomorrow at the earliest but no promises. Apologies for the late forth coming of the chapters but trust me its worth it!
Somewhere In The Middle (Casting Crowns): Part One
I wanted a perfect ending, now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme.
And some stories don't have clear beginnings, middles and endings.
Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it.
Without knowing what's going to happen next.
~Gilda Radner ~
3:17 AM February 16th
When the phone rings at three in the morning, it heralds bad fortune…
Bri-iiing.
Briii-iiing.
Briiiii-iiing
Growling into his pillow as he was rudely awakened, Miyagi snatched up the receiver. His lover stirred next to him. There was a brief pause of silence. Sitting up, he threw off the covers and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. Rubbing his face, he groaned at the hour illuminated on the alarm clock.
If this was a godforsaken sale call…
Beside him, Shinobu groaned, pushing himself onto one elbow he sleepily glared at the alarm clock, then winced at the time. Unimpressed with the hour, Shinobu flopped back into his pillow. Miyagi pitied the younger man; he was under so much duress at the moment with his law exams. Feeling irritated on his lover's behalf, Miyagi turned to address the unfortunate caller.
"Miyagi speaking." Miyagi said, his resolve holding not to yell abuse at the caller.
There was a momentary pause.
"Sumimasen deshita," the caller answered graciously. "Am I speaking to Professor Miyagi Yoh of M-University?"
"Yes, speaking."
"Thank goodness," a relieved voice sighed. "My name is Doctor Nadzuki Aoika, I work for the Tokyo Metropolitan Hiroo Hospital. Sir, I understand it is late. But, I am afraid I need to ask your assistance on a crucial matter."
"What is this in regards to?" Miyagi asked reaching for yesterday's shirt.
"Its about my patient, Dr Kusama."
Miyagi paused in buttoning his shirt. His eyes widened a little at the announcement of the name. Frowning, Miyagi wondered why on earth the hospital would be contacting him about Kamijou's lover. The image of the tall dark haired man who had violently reacted to his attempt to kiss Kamijou filled his mind. Enraged blue eyes glinting like daggers. A shiver passed down his spine at the memory, the man had one hell of a hold.
"Dr Kusama?" He asked switching the phone to his other ear. "As in Kusama Nowaki?"
"Yes, Miyagi-sensei." The doctor confirmed. "He's in critical condition here at Hiroo."
"What happened?"
"I am afraid I can't discuss the condition over the phone with anyone but his family," the Doctor formally replied. "I am already stretching the rules to contact yourself, but I am struggling to find any immediate kin for Dr Kusama. Your office was registered as an emergency contact number, I am hoping you can assist me in tracing his family."
Sighing, Miyagi felt his head throb. Oh boy, this was going to be a long day! Rubbing a hand over his tired face, he promised the doctor he would be right over to the hospital.
As he finished dressing, Miyagi leant over to brush a hand through his lover's sandy brown hair. His lover still looked like a high-school student in his sleep; Shinobu was maturing slowly into manly figure as he aged, but like a good wine he was just becoming an exceptional vintage as time passed. He placed a kiss on Shinobu's exposed cheek.
"I'll be back soon," he whispered against his lover's sensitive ear, eliciting a shudder from the younger man.
"Promise me breakfast?" Shinobu groggily responded.
"Deal Shinobu-chin." Miyagi smiled. "As long as you promise to thank me properly."
"Insatiable old man!" Shinobu snorted into his pillow, as he drifted back to his land of Miyagi.
*****
Doctor Nadzuki was a petite woman in her late thirties. Behind quirky sparkly pink glasses, she surveyed Miyagi, before concluding her evaluation of her patient. The outlook was grim; the pale body lying in the hospital bed, breathing with the aid of a machine, was barely clinging to life with a frail thread. Kusama had sustained a broken femur, shattered ribs, punctuated lung and concussion with the collision with the water. Additionally, he had suffered asphyxiation from ingesting river water- the doctors were concerned that hypoxia might have occurred, resulting in damage to the internal organs and the brain through oxygen starvation. Glancing through the observation window, Miyagi realised the gravity of the situation. Words weren't necessary to stress that the cataleptic form might not survive the night.
"There could be more unfortunate news yet to come," Dr Nadzuki continued. "I have sent for toxic screens as I believe he might have attempted an over-dose before jumping."
"Shit!" Miyagi cursed. "He was determined."
"Appears so," the doctor agreed sadly. "I don't understand what drives a man to be so committed to dying with a background like his. He's an excellent paediatrician according to my acquaintances."
That's easy, Miyagi thought. Loose the heart of your world.
"Six years ago on valentine's day, he lost his lover."
"Oh." Violet eyes flared wide open surprised.
As he answered her question his throat constricted with emotion. He never could talk about Kamijou without that choking sensation. The devil professor owned a special affection in Miyagi's heart; naming the sensation was impossible. He had debated several long nights after his brown-haired professor had passed on the exact definition of those emotional ties. There existed no simple name for the phenomenon. All, Miyagi could successful conclude was few would fill the shoes of that brown-eyed demon left. He had been a friend; a lover; a teacher; a son; someone to love and someone to hate. He was the character that linked the world together, but never known his true worth.
Miyagi smiled at the surfacing memory. In the interview for his professorship placement, Kamijou had inspired Miyagi with his passion and devotion to literature. Hidden was deep anguish and suffering that dwelt behind chain-mail armour that was full of holes. He had recognised a kindred soul in the man. Kusama had been the source of that affliction, he had later learnt, but he didn't begrudge the man. He had witnessed a miracle with their love. Fate could be kind to some, like his assistant professor and this doctor. It granted second chances. However, Fate was still a bloody cruel bastard.
Life needed a manual- for too late did humans recognise how precious is the time lovers' share. Wise old farts ought to really state clearly on the label of life the soul-destroying dangers of love. So many ghostly regrets rot the soul after the death of a loved one. Miyagi understood that infliction too well. A sad smile twitched at his lip as he fingered his keys in his pocket, his fingers resting on his lover's key chain. For all that can be lost, there could be much gained in life too.
Sometimes, Fate could be merciful.
Sometimes, once in a lifetime love could happen twice.
Fate was still an evil son of a bitch.
Leaning on the end of the bed, he surveyed the wan grey figure lying in the bed.
"Doctor, honestly what are his chances?"
Large violet eyes looked straight up at his own, with a bleak gaze. "If he survives the next twenty-four hours, he has maybe a thirty percent chance of recovering with some hope of a normal life. To be honest, if he makes to this evening, I will be thoroughly surprised."
"Not great odds."
"No, if I were a gambling woman, Miyagi-sensei, I would throw my lot in with a better horse." The doctor answered picking up Kusama's notes, she sighed. "If he survives he is going to need a lot of therapy."
*****
Miyagi awoke a little later to find his lover standing over him. Shinobu was still dressed in his office suit, hinting he had come straight from his law firm to the hospital. Dropping his briefcase beside the vacant visitors chair, he took the seat and his lover's hand. No words were spoken as they both stared the unconscious man before them.
Rubbing a weary hand over his face, Miyagi groaned. "What time is it?"
"Just past seven pm," Shinobu answered in a whisper, lacing his fingers with his lover's, he snuggled closer to the elder man. Awkwardly lifting their clasped hands, Miyagi crossed Shinobu's left arm over the younger man's chest, drawing him back to rest against his body. Tilting Shinobu's face toward him, he consumed his lover's lips in a fierce, hungry kiss. Shinobu yelped and moaned at the brute force of the kiss. As Miyagi plundered his lover's mouth, his only thoughts where to possess the man he loved, seeking comfort in the warmth of living love.
Afterwards, they sat silently embraced staring at the frail life before them. Miyagi held Shinobu closely, grateful to the Fates for his lover's presence and the fact that Kusama had survived his first molehill. There was a fighting chance now. Resting, his head against the softness of Shinobu's hair, he inhaled deeply the soothing smell of apples from the younger man's shampoo and fresh scent that was Shinobu's own.
"How is he?"
"Touch and go. He's got an pulmonary infection."
"What did the doctors say?" Shinobu asked softly.
"That's he will need a hell of a lot of therapy when he wakes up."
Shinobu chuckled. "We should eat."
Glancing at the clock, Miyagi noted the time. There was another hour before the new doctor's rounds would begin. He had eaten very little that day having sat watch over Kusama. He would just let the nurses' station know they were going to the hospital restaurant, in case the doctors wanted to speak to him.
"Hmm. We should." Brushing a kiss against Shinobu's cheek, which made the younger man blush in surprise, Miyagi whispered against his ear. " Just no cabbage or pumpkin."
Trembling, Shinobu groaned at the breathy caress of his ear.
"Baka." He gasped as Miyagi stole another kiss.
Retreating, he grinned wickedly as he left Shinobu needy and aroused from the attentions he had bestowed.
"Let's eat shall we?"
*****
Cold blackness greeted him.
In the darkness was the mechanical beeping of a respirator. A strange heaviness haunted his limbs. The haziness of his mind told his medical brain a drug -induced paralyzing kept him still. Opening his eyes, blurry spectres rushed around the periphery of his vision. Lifting a heavy hand, he clutched feebly at the ventilator mask. Wires touch him everywhere; electrodes, nasogastric tubes, tracheal tubes. Strange squawky nose emit from his throat as he tried to call out at the pain.
Tears leak from the corners of his eyes as he starred at the blurry whiteness of the ceiling. Feeling a little more strength, he attempts to put at the tubes. Shouting follows as he grabs clumsily with his good hand at life giving wires binding him to this world. A wall of arms and hands grasp him, restraining him down. Yelling voices overhead, deafening his senses. There is a sharp pain as something scratches him.
Nowaki.
That voice!
A calming voice.
Hiro-san.
In the mists of his sedative haze, there is only one clear figure. A teary vision of Hiro-san stands beside his beside. Squawky sounds greet the man he loves. Warm tender hands brush through his dark locks; he is lost in a world of pain and bliss. Hiro-san shines like an angel. Closed his eyes wishing for the end.
Nowaki.
Darkness again.
He wakes in darkened room. Turning slightly, he can see two lone figures curled up on chairs. He is confused to his visitors' identities. Located on the right of the bed, he hears the beeping of the machine. Inching his head over, he found himself staring up into dark brown eyes of a child. She was small, dainty and a perfect replica of a young Hiro-san. She stood beside his bed, sombre and quiet. Reaching up, she brushed warm fingers through his thick hair soothingly. Closing his eyes, he savoured the feeling. His delusions were conceivably real in nature. Large sad eyes, watched him as he gave back into the healing unconsciousness.
As his senses dulled he heard a distant sweet voice whisper. "I love you, Nowaki."
*****
Time slowly slips you by in a hospital,
Hours seem like Days
Days like Months
Months like Years.
In the blink of an eye, you can lose yourself to the deathly clock of the hospital hour.
*****
To Be Continued …