Disclaimer: All SM characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi. But this story belongs to me, so please do not steal!
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Monday on the line, when you know
that now's the time to leave and be free.
Aware of your destiny.
When that moment arrives,
wild visions through the mind.
And all I see, is what used to be.
My life could soon be a memory.
I don't ever wanna feel pain.
Wanna be ready when you call my name.
I don't ever wanna feel fear.
'Cause every night feels alright,
when you're near.
Battle through this war of nerves,
when your life takes a turn.
What I have is what I feel,
while in my mind, you're laying here.
Feel that unholy dread,
there's a piece of me in all he says.
All kinds of weird stuff inside my head.
The stage fright in my own bed.
I don't ever wanna feel pain.
Wanna be ready when you call my name.
I don't ever wanna feel fear.
'Cause every night feels alright,
when you're near.
Don't wanna be like a voice without word,
'cause I need you here with me.
Don't wanna be alone in this world.
Will I suppress my fear?
And will I beat this war of nerves?
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(War of nerves - All Saints)
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1
She took his hand in hers, careful not to move the needle and hurt him. Tears came to her eyes upon noticing how cold his hand was.
His hands were never cold...
There was a bandage over the left side of his head, and the bruise on his temple was finally starting to fade away. His left leg was on a plaster, and yet another ugly looking bruise over his ribs. The needle in the back of his hand was connected to the serum bag to keep him hydrated, while the machines all around the bed monitored his heartbeat, breathing, and brain activity.
Blinking her tears away, she reached out her other hand, gently caressing his jet black hair. It was dull, she noted, and she knew he would probably want to take a shower and clean up the moment he woke up.
But he wasn't waking up...
She had known something was wrong.
After the last Grand Prix of the season in Singapore, and after a rather intimate celebration in the privacy of her hotel room, he had jumped into a plane the morning after; the last details of his new album had to be taken care of so he could meet the scheduled release date. And she still had a few press conferences to take part of, and then helping her crew packing everything up before going home.
After getting everything done, and the anxiety of being back home in just a few more hours getting the better of her, she had called him, only to get no answer at all.
There were several reasons to explain that. He could be home, taking a shower, and of course he would be unable to even hear to the phone. He could have gone to the grocery store and forgot his cellphone. Or he could still be at the studio, maybe working on some song or another and making the final arrangements, and either couldn't pick up her call, or forgot the small device somewhere in there.
Wouldn't be the first time.
But something in her guts had told her that was not it. Something was wrong, and she had known it in her heart. In her soul. And barely forty minutes later, after countless of tries to reach him both back home and at his cellphone, when Yaten's number flashed in her own cellphone, she knew.
A distracted driver. A red light, and a little kid crossing the street. And him, running to the little kid and shielding him from the upcoming, inevitable impact.
A broken leg. It was a miracle his ribs were not broken as well. The open wound in his head was not that deep, and doctors had been able to stop the internal bleeding. But he had hit his head, hard against the pavement. Scans and tests didn't show any severe trauma, but they wouldn't be sure until he woke up.
And he wasn't waking up...
"Hey," a male voice got her out of her own head, and she straightened up, turning to look at the door and giving the tall brunette a tired, half felt smile.
"Hey," she greeted back, rubbing her eyes with one hand. Her smile widening a little when he offered one of the cardboard cups he was carrying.
"If the tea's as bad as the coffee," he started to say, "then I'm sorry."
She chuckled, nodding her head. "It is," she said, accepting the cup all the same and taking a small sip. A frown coming to her features as she drank the warm liquid.
It really was terrible. But at least it helped her keep herself warm.
She saw him walking up to the head of the bed, right beside her; purple, somewhat sad eyes looking down on the sleeping man before letting out a sigh and turning to look at her again. "You should go home," he said, in a worried, yet tender tone. "Take a nice, long shower and a good night rest."
"I'm fine," she assured him, shaking her head.
"Haruka."
She looked up at him again. A tired, sad expression all over her face she was unable to hide. She just didn't have the strength to hide anymore. But she couldn't go home. Not with him still in here...
Two weeks. He had been sleeping for almost two weeks now.
She took a deep breath, trying to keep the tears she felt coming to her eyes again from falling. She was so sensitive lately... it was a wonder she hadn't cried herself to death yet.
"I can't," she finally said, lowering her gaze, looking at the cold, unmoving hand resting over the bed instead. She took it in hers again, softly caressing his skin with her thumb. "I just... I can't..."
"You need to take care of yourself," he said, putting a gentle hand over her shoulder. And then he chuckled. "You know he'd kill me if anything happens to you."
Despite herself, she chuckled too at his comment. "I'm fine, Taiki," she insisted, lightly squeezing the hand over her shoulder. "Really, I am."
He let out a sigh, obviously giving up arguing with her. "At least have some decent meal," he said, almost pleading. "Not bland hospital food, but a real meal. I can ask Makoto to..."
"No, it's ok," she was fast to say, shaking her head. "I don't wanna bother her."
"You won't," he said, smiling knowingly. "You know that."
"I know," she agreed, shaking her shoulder. "But really, there's no need. Setsuna's coming by later, and I'm sure she'll bring something with her."
"Promise me you'll eat something."
She glared at him. "Have you ever tried to say no to her?" she asked, frowning, in a light, half felt joking tone.
"No," he admitted. "I don't have the guts to do so."
She chuckled at his honest answer. The olive skinned woman could be kind of scary whenever she got all bossy. And the only time she would take no as an answer, was when she was expecting that answer in the first place.
"You're smart," she noted, chuckling lightly again.
"So people say," he joked, shrinking his shoulders, but smiling down to her all the same.
They went quiet for a moment then, just sitting by the bed and drinking from their beverages. A sound from the hallways could be heard every now and then, along with the muffled hustle and bustle of fans and media alike, camping outside the hospital. But the room was quiet, sunken in silence, with only the sound of the machines monitoring the black haired man laying on the bed filling the seemingly empty space. The cables and the serum and bruises adding a certain surreal feeling to it, as if she was trapped in some weird, terrible dream, and she just couldn't wake up.
And it was so weird, seeing him so still. He didn't even look like he normally did when he was asleep.
And that scared her.
Shaking her head, she forced herself off that line of thoughts before she could really go there, taking another sip from the awful tea.
"Did you go to a doctor?" Taiki suddenly asked, making her look up at him.
She frowned, slightly tilting her head to a side. "No..."
"You should," he said, in a rather serious tone.
"I know," she agreed, letting out a sigh and massaging her temples again. "And I will, just... not right now..."
"The sooner, the better," he commented, not wanting to push the matter too much, probably not wanting to lecture her. At least not right now. He surely would, later on.
"I know, I know," she said, vaguely nodding her head. "And I promise I'll let you know as soon as I..."
"Hey, guys," came a third voice, and they both turned to look at the short silvery haired man entering the bedroom. "Any news?"
They didn't really need to answer his question. The moment his lime green eyes landed on the still quiet, still sleeping black haired man, with the machines and the serum still connected to him, he was perfectly able to guess the answer himself.
Letting out a sigh, he walked up to the bed, standing right next to her. "He's always had his lazy ass moments, but this is getting ridiculous," he joked, shaking his head, as he stole the cardboard cup off her hands, taking a sip. But then he frowned, chocking. "Shit, this is terrible!" he complained, retching.
"Yes, it is," she agreed, laughing at him.
"What is this, anyway?" he asked, eying the cup before returning it to her.
"Theoretically, tea," she answered.
He frowned. "And in reality?"
"Do you really want to know?" Taiki asked back, frowning too.
Lime green eyes blinked then, before he shook his head, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Probably not," he said, admittedly. "Some things are better left unknown, right?"
"Unsaid," Taiki corrected him, almost automatically.
"Huh?" Yaten asked, blinking and frowning again.
"Some things are better left unsaid," the brunette said, slightly nodding his head as he did so. "That's how that saying goes."
"I know," the shorter man defended himself. "But how can something be said at all, if it is unknown in the first place?" he reasoned.
"As stupid as it sounds," Taiki said, putting his hand up to his chin in a thoughtful manner, "you may have a point, there."
"Excuse me?" Yaten asked, offended.
And she just laughed at them and at their stupid, yet always amusing antics. "You guys are terrible."
.-.
He could hear them. They were... somewhere near.
He couldn't quite catch what they were saying, but he recognized their voices. And he could recognize their auras, too.
And she was there again as well. He couldn't quite recognize her, or place a face to that voice. But she was someone he knew.
Someone important.
He was lost and alone, with nothing but darkness around him. But whenever he heard her voice, soft, low, husky... it made him feel better, for some reason. The sadness in her voice made him sad too, and that short, yet rich laugh made him feel so good, almost safe. At home.
He wanted to hear her laugh again.
Her aura was strong, too. Even when he was unable to hear her, he could still feel her presence. And she was so alluring, too. As if she was calling out to him, somehow. And he knew, she was not just a normal girl. But she was not like him, either, though something in her aura, in her energy, felt oddly familiar...
So, who was she? Why was she there?
Where was there? And why couldn't he get out?
.-.
"Aw, but you love us, anyway!" Yaten joked, as he tapped the black haired man's plastered leg. "Now we just need this guy to wake up and say something stupid of his own, and we can all have a good laugh."
That sad look came back into green eyes, and the blonde woman reached out her hand, gently running her fingers through black hair, and Taiki glared at him.
"Sorry," Yaten apologized, his voice barely a whisper. "I just..."
"It's ok," she interrupted him, whispering too. Her fingers now caressing the somewhat warm cheek. "I want him to wake up too..."
.-.
She was so close now...
Why was she so sad? He couldn't see her, and he didn't know her, but for some reason, he knew she was crying. Her soul was crying. And she was just so, so sad...
He wanted to reach out to her and hold her. Comfort her, and kiss her tears away. Her sadness was breaking his heart, and he couldn't take it anymore. But as hard as he tried, he was just unable to reach her.
She was nothing but a distant voice and a strong, warm presence in the darkness that surrounded him.
Seiya, wake up.
"Princess?"
.-.
"Have you eaten anything?" Yaten asked, completely and deliberately changing the subject.
Green eyes glared up the tall, brunette man, and he blinked, raising both his hands up in the air. "I swear I didn't say anything."
"That's a no," Yaten noted in a rather disapproving tone, frowning.
"I'm fine."
"Sure you are," the short man said, rolling his lime green eyes. "That's why you have huge bags under your eyes and you look like shit."
"Gee, thanks," she said, unconsciously rubbing her face with one hand.
"And, please don't tell me you've lost weight," Yaten continued, now in a more serious, still disapproving, worried tone.
"I'm fine!" she insisted, raising her hands up in the air in a rather exasperated manner as she rested her back against the chair again. "You guys don't need to worry about me so much. I know how to take care of myself."
"We know that," Taiki said, putting a gentle hand over her shoulder. "But you're family now, remember?"
"When did I sign that contract?" she asked, half jokingly.
"When you started dating him," Yaten answered her, pointing at the sleeping black haired man with his head.
"I'm fine. Seriously," she insisted, yet again. "I'll eat something later, ok? I promise," she assured them. "And, trust me, I haven't lost any weight, so stop worrying so much already."
Taking a look at his wristwatch, Taiki let out a sigh, knowing it was just a matter of minutes before a nurse would come rushing in and politely but surely kicked them out. Visiting hours were almost over, but he could still stay on the waiting room for Setsuna to come and make sure the dark green haired woman would force some decent, full meal down the blonde's throat...
.-.
Why were they arguing? Why were they suddenly so worried? Was there something wrong with her?
Seiya, wake up.
There she was again!
"Princess?" he called out to her. "Princess, where are you?"
I'm here. I'm always right here.
"Where?" he asked, almost desperately. "I can't see you... I can't see anything!"
Just because you cannot see me, doesn't mean I'm not with you.
He heard that strange, husky, alluring voice again. Torn between trying to reach out to her again, and staying where he was and try to find his Princess instead, he hesitated, feeling now even more lost than before.
Go.
"Where?" he asked again, frustrated now. "Where am I?"
Somewhere you're not supposed to be.
"What?" he asked, honestly confused, and completely lost. Somewhere deep inside him, knowing that if he left this place -wherever it was-, he would not see his Princess again.
A sudden light appeared somewhat far away from him, but bright enough to hurt him after being in the darkness for so long. He thought he saw shadows, moving within the light, and he could feel them getting closer. Their voices getting louder now.
And his Princess' presence getting weaker.
"Kakyuu!" he called out to her, desperately.
I'll always be with you.
"What? No!" he exclaimed, as a deep, almost unbearable sense of loss invaded him at her words.
The light started getting stronger then. His mind was spinning, his head hurt. He felt heavy and stiff; he could literally feel the heavy beat of his heart as the light kept on getting stronger and stronger. Closer, brighter, it was really hurting his eyes, and a sudden awareness of his entire body aching took over him.
Go to her. Wake up.
"Princess!"
You need to wake up now.
"Princess!"
.-.
"Just make sure you get some rest tonight, alright?" Yaten said to her, a worried frown upon his soft, handsome face.
A low, tired groan escaped the tall blonde as she lifted her legs up, hugging them and hiding her face in between her knees.
"Hey, I'm talking to you," he complained, when she didn't give him a real answer.
"Yes, dad," she finally answered him, now looking up into lime green eyes. A mocking look all over her tired face. "I promise I'll be a good girl."
The short man rolled his eyes at her, flickering his ponytail off his shoulder. "You don't have to be such a bi..."
A low, almost heavy groan coming from the bed got their attention then, interrupting Yaten and making them all turn to look on that direction just in time to see midnight blue eyes blinking up. A frown, eyes closing again, and then another groan.
"Seiya?" she called out to him, practically jumping off the chair and going to the side of the bed again.
"What?" came the rusty, kind of annoyed question. He tried to sit up, only to get dizzy the moment he lifted his head off the pillows, and he groaned again.
"Take it easy," the tall brunette said, gently guiding him down again. "You've been out for a while..."
"What happened?" he asked, closing his eyes again and frowning.
"There was an accident," she answered him. "You're at the hospital now," she added, going to take his hand in hers.
But the way he opened his eyes and looked at her stopped her in mid air.
"And what are you doing here, Tenoh?"
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Coming soon: "That's right, I'm playing nanny tonight"