The party last night rendered him restless this morning. After spending time with Yumiko's number one model yesterday, they both went back inside and had some glasses of whatever wine that was offered to him person after person. It was unfortunate for him to pretend to be a lady through out the night, now he had the worst headache he ever had in life.
"…ugh…" The clock read 1:10. Fuji groggily sat up from the cover as it slides off his body. "…nhn…" The headache was oozing his brain back and forth, like the world is out of balance, giving him a very nauseated feeling. Both of his hands brought up to his head, trying to stabilize himself, even if he was just sitting in one place. "…Mom?..." Fuji called out softly. Hearing nothing, he called out again a little louder this time. "Mom!?"
A moment later, Yoshiko's footsteps neared Fuji's room in a hurried pace. "Syusuke?" She called out warily as she twisted the door knob to let herself in and went quickly over to the bed. "Sweetie, how are you feeling?"
"Mom?" Fuji opened his eyes, his cerulean orbs quivering. Yoshiko brought her hands up to cup his cheeks. "My head hurts…a lot." Fuji closed his eyes, leaning into the soothing touch of his mother's.
"I shouldn't have let you drink at all last night." Yoshiko said in a guilty tone. She massaged his temples gently, like rocking him to sleep. "How does it feel now?"
"A little better." Fuji replied slowly.
"Lay down." Yoshiko instructed him, carefully aiding him to lie back on the mattress. "I'm going to call the doctor, and I'll be right back. Okay?"
"Okay." Yoshiko brought the blanket up to cover her son before leaving the room quietly, but quickly.
Yumiko had gone off to meet up with her models some hours ago. Yuuta and their dad went to work, so only Yoshiko was home at the moment and their household staffs.
Fuji was fast asleep when their family doctor arrived. After the diagnosis, Yoshiko followed him outside to leave Fuji in his peace.
"Hita-san. Is Syusuke alright?" Yoshiko asked once they seated themselves in the living room.
"Everything is alright, Yoshiko-san." She let out a relieved sigh. "He's just having a heavy headache since he drank too much despite his low-tolerance level for alcohol."
"Is there a way to minimize the headache?" Yoshiko inquired.
"Give him a lot of liquid to dilute the alcohol level, and feed him food rich in minerals." Hita went on to instruct further about the specific food and drinks.
After all was done, both stood up and walked toward the exit. "Thank you so much, Hita-san. You've been a great help to Syusuke."
"No need to thank me." He smiled. A reminiscent look spread across his face. "The moment he was born, I felt that it is my responsibility to keep him alive for the longest as possible. He is, in fact, my godson." Hita left after saying bye to Yoshiko.
The sun was closed to setting when Fuji woke up from his deep slumber. The heavy headache was gone, but he still felt tired, like he had no more energy left. Too tired to get off the bed, he laid still looking up the ceiling. Only a moment later, his door creaked open. He diverted his gaze to the door and smiled. "Mom."
"Ah, Syusuke. You're awake." She walked over to the bed and sat on it. She felt Fuji's forehead with the palm of her hand. "How are you feeling?"
"Better." Fuji rustled under the blanket as he tried to sit up.
"Are you hungry?" Yoshiko looped her arm around Fuji's back to pull him up to rest against the head board.
Fuji nodded in reply.
Yoshiko left the room and came back later with a tray full of vitamin C consumptions. Fuji thanked her and gulped down the food as fast as he could. He hadn't had any food for almost 24 hours.
"No need to rush. No one's going to steal your food away." Yoshiko teased her appetizing son, only to earn a chuckle between bites.
That night, he was fussed over by his family. They had always been the worry warts of Fuji. Before when he was residing in America, his family always made unnecessary trips oversea to visit Fuji when he didn't feel well. Fuji was happy that his family cares for him so much despite how much he bothers them with his illness.
They were all in his room the whole night until he fell asleep unknowingly.
The next day he woke up, his headache was gone and he was back to normal. Going downstairs, he was greeted by his mom. Like everyday, the rest were off to work.
Yoshiko smiled gladly at the cheery aura Fuji emitted along with his happy-to-go smile. "You look better."
"Yup." He proceeded to hug his mom. "Thank you for yesterday."
"You're welcome. Now, let's get your breakfast." The mother and son went to the kitchen. As they were passing by the living room, Fuji's closed eyes caught a glimpse of something colorful.
"Mom. What's in there?" Fuji walked slowly with curiosity to the slightly closed door.
"Hm?" Yoshiko followed Fuji into the room. Catching what's inside, she smiled. "Oh, that."
"Whose is it?" Fuji probed the bouquet of flower that lie on the coffee table, overflowing in colors. Next, he went over to the stacks of wrapped boxes on the sofa.
"Well, it's yours. Do you like it?" Yoshiko sat herself next to the stacks.
Fuji turned to his mother to give her his disbelieving look. "Really?"
"Of course, why would I lie something about that? Go on. Open them." Yoshiko urged toward the boxes.
Who is it from? Fuji wondered in his head as he fingered the top box. There was a get-well card fastened under the blue ribbon that matched the color of his eyes. He flipped the card opened and eyed the content. From…Saeki?
"What does it say?" Yoshiko asked with amusement in her tone.
"Secret." Fuji said it slowly in syllables.
Yoshiko chuckled and stood up. "I'm going to heat up your breakfast. Come eat in 10 minutes." With that, she left Fuji alone in the room looking at the gifts.
"My…Saeki is really too much." His smile widened at the thought of the steeled-gray haired model. He sat down and took a sniff at the bouquet. "Smells good." He preceded to un-wrap the gifts. He got a lot of stuff by the time the living room was a mess of recyclable papers.
There were different musical toys, each with different musical instruments, a charm bracelet, a glass wind chime, and much more.
Fuji gave Saeki an appreciation call after his breakfast. And much to his content, Saeki had asked Fuji to lunch that day. He had been meaning to visit his hometown since his family had been too busy with the past few days.
The restaurant they went to was excluded for VIP guests. They shared something about themselves over the lunch course. It was perhaps more than an hour later that they prepare to leave.
Fuji was quick to grab the bill as soon as the waiter came back with it.
"It's my treat." Fuji flashed an idiotic grin at Saeki that one would consider sly.
"No, I took you out, so it's mine." Saeki leaned across the table to snatch the bill away but failed. Fuji had quickly moved back and hid it behind his back as he pulled out his wallet from his back pocket.
"I want to thank you for the gifts earlier." Saeki had moved out of his seat to walk over to Fuji's.
"Next time will be yours." Saeki insisted. He grabbed Fuji's arm to hold him into place while his other hand went for the bill.
"No." Fuji pouted stubbornly. He brought the bill closer to his chest, shielding it with both of his hands.
"Give it." Saeki said in a semi serious tone, a joking one of course. Saeki didn't really mind who was going to pay for the meal, but he was sure that he enjoyed the close contact with the other boy. Saeki chuckled and then dropped his hands to Fuji's side to tickle him.
"Mffh hehehe." Fuji restrained his laugh, and soon, the bill and his wallet went flying to the marble floor.
Saeki smirked and bent down to pick up the wallet and the bill. "Oops!" Fuji smiled. "Thank you." Fuji reached out to get his wallet when Saeki pulled it back.
"What's this?" There was a business card probing out from Fuji's wallet. The word 'Tezuka' caught his eyes. He pulled the card out.
Fuji looked puzzling at Saeki. He didn't recognize the card. In fact, he has a lot of cards in his wallet and all of them happened to be white. "What is it?" Fuji eyed Saeki curiously, but it seemed like Saeki didn't hear him.
Fuji reached out and snatched the card from Saeki's fingers. "Hey!" Saeki protested, but Fuji was already eyeing it.
"Oh!" Fuji let out a surprised gasp. I forgot about him.
"What's wrong?" Saeki inquired.
"Eh? Oh nothing." Fuji stumbled the card back into his wallet. "It's nothing. Let's go." Both walked over to the cashier to make the payment. When the cashier reached out to take Saeki's credit cards, Fuji had swiftly snatched it away and replaced it with Yumiko's before the cashier took it away.
"You sneaky little…" Saeki turned to Fuji and was about to tackled the shorter lad with tickles when the cashier interrupted them.
"Here's your card, sir." Fuji took the card and they both left the restaurant.
"Tezuka. Kunimitsu." Saeki pondered; his finger tapping his chin as if in contemplation as they walked through the parking lot to their car.
Fuji looked sideway at Saeki when he heard a murmur from him. "What about him?"
"Ah? Oh, nothing. It's just…his name sounds familiar." Saeki shrugged and said indifferently. He turned to look back at Fuji. "Why do you have his business card? Do you know him?"
"Mhm hm." Fuji nodded and looked forward. "He's the young, well-known architecture in Japan."
"Oh right!" Saeki formed a fist to hit on his other palm.
Fuji chuckled softly. "Yup! And he's a friend of mine."
"Oh yeah? That's awesome…by the way, do you know that your chuckle sounds nice?" A Cheshire grin spread across his face, only to be returned by Fuji's playful punch.
Saeki took Fuji to an art gallery upon his request. It was a common day in Fukushima with people walking crowdedly on the streets. Saeki parked his car a quarter mile away from the gallery, so they had to go on foot for the remaining distance.
They were talking enthusiastically when a big picture hanging down a 5-story building on the other side of the street crossed Fuji's eyes. They flickered open. Sensing Fuji stopped, Saeki also stopped. "What is it, Syusuke?" He followed Fuji's gaze toward the picture. "Hey, that's your family!"
"Yeah…" The Fuji Family! Fuji read the label under the picture of Yumiko, Yuuta, and his parents. His smile faltered, not go un-noticed by Saeki.
"It's an old picture, taken when you're still in America." Fuji made no response. "I'm sure the next picture that's going up, you'll be in it under 'The Fuji Family'." Saeki said it as if knowing what Fuji was thinking.
Fuji closed his eyes and his smile came back. "Thank you, Kojirou. But, it's okay. I don't really mind. It's not necessary for me to be publicized."
"That's good, as long as you know your family, and your family knows you, right?"
Fuji nodded. "Come on, let's go."
It was night time when Saeki dropped Fuji home. All his family members were back and they now sat at the dining table having their family dinner. Fuji told them about his day, but he didn't mention the family picture he encountered on the street. He was somewhat sad, maybe disappointed, but it wasn't necessary for others to know.
After dinner, his dad and Yuuta went to their office room. Fuji decided to pay his dad a visit about his plan for the next day. He stopped in front of the door and knocked. Seconds later he was given consent to enter, and so he did.
Yuuta was sitting at a smaller desk beside the big wooden oak desk where his dad seated. They both looked up to the entered family member.
"Syusuke. Do you need something?" His dad asked while Yuuta went back to writing.
"Ne Otou-san. I want to go to Tokyo for a few days. Is that okay?"
"Tokyo?" Yuuta looked up; his facial expression was of puzzlement.
Fuji nodded. "Why do you want to go there…and for a few days?" His dad asked, little too much curious.
Fuji nodded again with his everlasting smile. "I want to visit someone and explore the city while I'm there."
"I don't know." His dad was uncertain. "But I guess you can go if someone goes with you." He meant Yuuta or Yumiko.
"But aren't Yuuta and nee-san busy?" Fuji knew that consent was somewhat holding a no to it. Fuji walked over and draped his arm over his dad's shoulders. "Please? I promise to call every hour while I'm there and stay safe every moment of my beating heart." Fuji's smile widened. He raised his right hand and put it over his heart.
His dad's eyebrow perched up a few centimeters higher before he asked with little hesitation to it. "Did you ask your mom?"
"Not yet." Fuji stood up straight and shuffled the papers that were lying on the desk untouched. "I want to ask you first."
His dad suddenly snatched the papers back and put them back on the desk where they originally belonged. "Ask her. If she says yes, then you can go." Fuji smiled brightly before skipping out of the room.
"Thanks Otou-san."
"Dad, don't spoil him too much." Yuuta said indifferently when the door closed after Fuji.
"That's not spoiling…Don't tell me you're jealous…" His dad looked at him with mocking eyes and an idiotic grin.
Yuuta gave him the annoyed glare and a heavy sigh followed after before going back to work. Ignore him!!
Yoshiko had let Fuji go to Tokyo and she even bought him flight ticket for the next day.
Fuji woke up earlier than usual out of excitement. There wasn't much to pack as he only planned to stay at Kyoto for a few days; besides, he could always buy new clothes with his mom's light-weighted plastic card. It's the essence of being rich. You never have to carry heavy loads around.
Yoshiko was in the foyer, near the staircase, when Fuji came down with the little suitcase in his hand that he showed no problem carrying.
"Morning mom." Fuji tiptoed up to give his mom a peck on her cheek.
"Good morning to you too, Syusuke." She offered him a sunny smile back. "Did you sleep well?"
"Hai."
Just then a man of about 10 years older than Fuji entered the scene. "Yoshiko-san. Young Master." He greeted the 2 mother and son respectfully. A friendly smile slipped on his face.
Fuji's eyes opened. They glistened, like rays from the sun hitting the deep blue sea, as he looked at the striking feature the man possessed: his shiny bald head.
"Syusuke, this is Ishida Gin. He's going to be in my place watching over you for this trip." Yoshiko introduced. She patted Fuji's head. "And Gin, this is my beloved son. Please take good care of him."
"Mom!" Fuji pouted with his eyes closed, moving his mom's playful hand away from his head. "Good morning, Ishida-san." Fuji offered his hand to Ishida.
Ishida reached forward to shake Fuji's petite hand in his big one. "Gin is fine." Fuji nodded.
Ishida and Fuji had taken the plane to Tokyo airport that morning, and they arrived in the early afternoon. Ishida rented a care at the airport and drove them both to a hotel his mom booked the night before.
Fuji's suite was next to Ishida. After they both settled in, Ishida took him to a well-known restaurant that served the best French cuisines in Tokyo for lunch. Ishida kindly took Fuji to shop for his new clothes in a metro mall close by and became Fuji's shopping bags carrier.
They had been in the mall for more than 3 hours and Ishida was carrying so many bags that he could hold no more.
"Wahh!!" Fuji stretched, his arms reaching the sky. "Thank you, Gin. It was fun."
Ishida chuckled. "You're welcome. As long as you had fun."
"Yup." Just then a voice caught his attention.
'It was pleasure to work with you. I'll see you on Thursday." Another voice responded, but it didn't enter Fuji's ear. He turned around to look for the owner of the voice, only to see a group of business men facing their back to him.
Fuji's eyes sauntered through the heads and his smile grew wider when he saw the neatly gelled deep-hazel head among the men. I come here to see him, but I didn't expect to see him so soon.
"Oh Gin." Fuji turned back to Ishida.
"What is it?"
"I'm going to meet up with someone. You can go back first."
"Are you sure? Yoshiko-san trusted me with your safety." A little worried crease formed on his forehead.
"I'm sure." Fuji gave him a reassuring smile and hushed him out.
"Okay, then. Call me if something comes up and stay out of trouble." Ishida reluctantly turned on his heels and walked away.
"I will." Fuji waved after Ishida's back. As soon as Ishida came out of his view, Fuji turned around to look for the person. Hm? Where'd he go? Fuji looked around, scanning carefully with his sharp razor eyes. Ah, there he is.
The said person was at the top of the escalator and about to walk away. Fuji immediately sprinted up the escalator without waiting patiently for it to take him up.
Now what? Fuji frowned. He looked around him and saw the person walked toward a hall that leads to the other side of the mall.
When he got to the hall, he had lost the sight of the person. There were 3 ways that the hall leads to: the restroom, the employees' area, and the other side of the mall that sold jewelry.
Fuji took a chance and picked the restroom way. He walked briskly down the corridor that eventually that forked into to side for the oppose genders. He took the left fork.
At the turning corner, he accidentally bumped into 2 guys that walked from the opposite direction.
"I'm sorry." Fuji muttered an apology before leaving on his way uneasily. He sweared that the 2 guys were smirking and looking at him in a way he couldn't decipher. Fuji was aware the eyes glued to his back as he continued walking and stopped when he heard a voice called out behind him.
"Hey!" Fuji turned around. Surprisingly, the owner of the voice didn't sound so distant. The 2 guys he bumped into earlier were less than 6 feet away from him.
"What is it?" Fuji asked quietly. Somehow his voice didn't sound as strong as he wanted it to be.
"Nothing." The taller guy moved closer and made a round about Fuji and stopped on his right side. "You look so familiar." He mused.
"No. This is my first time here. I don't think you could've seen me before and neither do I." Fuji shrunk back a few steps that took him to the wall.
The 2 guys moved in closer. "Is that so?" The other guy spoke up. "What are you doing on this side? Waiting for your boyfriend?"
"No. I think you're mistaken. I'm a guy." Fuji heard himself gulped.
"Oh?" The guys' expressions changed from confusion to amusement. "Better."
What does that mean? Fuji thought in his head. "I really need to go now." Fuji said quickly and slipped out from his left. Unfortunately, the taller guy got hold of his wrist. He yanked Fuji back to the wall.
"You're going no where." The tall guy gave Fuji a dirty smirk.
"The coast's clear." The shorter one said after looking back and forth.
"Let's move to the stall." The taller one said with an evil grin.
"What!" Fuji tried to pull his wrist away. When that failed, he took his cell phone out with his free hand only to get it snatched away and thrown against the hard floor.
"You won't be needing that." The shorter guy said.
"What are you--Mphf mphf." Fuji was about to yell for help but the taller guy used his other hand to cover up Fuji's mouth. He pulled Fuji into the restroom with ease.
When they are in the restroom, Fuji was thrown against the cold wall beside the sink, pressed up between it and the taller guy.
"Don't bother yelling for help. No one's going to be around for a while." A dirty grin appeared on his face. He dipped down to capture Fuji's lips, but missed.
Fuji struggled his hardest, but to no avail. Someone, help me. He moved his face sideway. He could hear the shorter guy saying words that made the taller guy more aggressive. Fuji did his best to calm himself down and think of a way of escape, but his mind thought otherwise. It sped up, making him feel scare and weak all over as he panicked inwardly. The taller guy did more attempts, but failed all. Fuji could feel the guy raging without looking at his face.
"Why you!" Fuji felt his left cheek sting. The impact was hard enough to send him onto the floor, but the guy was holding onto him, pushing him against the hard wall.
"Let me go! I didn't do anything to you!" Fuji yelled as tears running down his cheek.
"Little bitch!" Another hand stroked his other cheek.
A little blood appeared at the corner of Fuji's mouth. His left hand went up to touch his painful and probably swelling cheeks.
"If you're not going to be obedient, then you're going to get more than that." The tall guy warned.
Fuji opened his eyes to glare. "I'd rather take the pain than submit to someone like you."
That insult sent the taller guy on his way to attack Fuji. He swiftly moved his hands over to roam in front of Fuji's chest, attempting to remove the cloth, while smacking his lips on Fuji's neck and collar.
Fuji's hands went up to push the taller guy. "Stop! Please, stop it!" The tears flowed down his reddened cheeks. Fuji pounded the guy harder when his shirt was unbuttoned half way. "Don't!"
Just then, the bathroom door opened and slammed against the wall, hard enough to make the wall rattled. "What the hell are you doing!?" A grim voice said.
The tall guy stopped and turned around to meet a strong punch landed across his face that sent him flying to the ground. Fuji's surprised eyes followed the flying figure to the floor.
"Who-who-who--" The short guy hugged the stall, trembling as he looked at the frightened intruder that knocked out his taller friend out cold.
Fuji turned to look at the intruder and his eyes widened. Te-Tezuka? But, Tezuka wasn't looking back at him; his eyes were on the shorter guy who seemed to be stuttering with fear.
"Get your friend and get lost!" Tezuka roared. The short guy gulped and scurried over to his friend on the ground, picking up the unconscious body and fled out the bathroom.
None spoke up. Tezuka's eyes went over to meet with Fuji's. His expression un-faltered, always hard to read and emotionless.
Tezuka moved his feet closer to the shocked boy. He removed his vest and draped it over Fuji's shoulders. "Let's go." He then ushered Fuji out without another word from both.
I'm sOrrY if This chApteR suckS. I sEemed tO be hoRrible wiTh thE speEchEs anD sucK at deScRibiNg the sCene moRe eFfeCtiveLy. Do dRop a coMMent anYwayS tO leT me kNow iF I shouLd contInue. ThaNks!!