A/N: Hello my dear readers, here's the latest chapter of "Remember Me". Enjoy the read and please be so kind to leave me a little comment with yout thoughts. A big thanks to everyone who took the time to review on the previous chapter and to everyone who added me to theri 'favorites' and or 'alert' lists. That means a great deal to me!
Disclaimer: Nothing new here, I still don't own them!
Chapter 3
Gii stood at the window of his room, letting his eyes wander over the dorm grounds which were bustling with activity that Saturday morning. Summer vacation had started and most of the students prepared for their journey home. Some boys had already left after the closing ceremony the previous day, but the majority of them, except for the few students who had decided to stay and catch up with their studies during the vacation, would be leaving during the course of the present morning to rejoin their families for the next five weeks. Gii had planned to take Takumi to the US with him over the summer as an engagement present, using that opportunity to give his parents and his fiancé the chance to get to know each other since Takumi would be part of the Saki family in the future, but the attack and its consequences had changed everything.
Sighing dejectedly he ran a hand through his hair only to hiss sharply as pain kicked in immediately. "Damn it," he cursed loudly and inspected his right hand that was wrapped in several layers of bandages, the result of his outburst at the hospital's bus stop one week ago. Luckily he had no broken bones, but still his hand was in a sorry state, swollen and badly bruised. The thin skin over his knuckles was badly torn, the rest of the hand shimmered in an ugly purple-bluish color and even after six days the smallest movements and actions still proved to be difficult, not to mention painful. "Takumi," he whispered longingly into the silence of the room, closing his eyes momentarily. "Please remember everything and come back soon. I miss you."
With another sigh he opened his eyes again and let his hazel-colored orbs drift over the busy dorm grounds once more, losing himself in gloomy thoughts. The past week had been a torment. The facts that he was forced to stay away from his beloved by the order of the boy's parents and that he had no chance to get any news concerning Takumi's amnesia as well as his physical condition had begun to take their toll on him. He looked pale and exhausted and even with the sleeping pills he had received from the nurse at the school's infirmary his nights were anything but regenerating.
Ever since Tanabata they had been mostly dreamless and the few times he had dreamt his dreams had been about the fateful night of the attack, Takumi lying motionlessly on the ground, dirty and bruised or Takumi lying in the hospital bed with needles in his arm, his head bandaged, connected to the wires of the heart rate monitor. The whole situation, in particular the trembling uncertainty, was driving him crazy and the fact that, according to the conversation with doctor Asano, Takumi would have to stay at the hospital for about one month at least didn't do anything to improve his dampened spirits. At the present moment one month had never seemed longer and Gii asked himself over and over again how he would be able to bear the wait without going insane and how he could keep himself occupied.
"Takumi," he was sighing again when a sudden knock at the door brought him back from his dark thoughts. "Come in," he exclaimed and turned to face his visitors, for there in the middle of the room stood none other than Akaike, Misu, Toshihisa and Shingyouji. "Ohayo minna," Gii greeted his friends with a weak smile that didn't reach his eyes. "How are you today Gii-senpai? How is your hand," Shingyouji asked genuinely concerned. "It still hurts like hell and I can barely use it, but don't worry I'll be alright," the handsome upper-class man answered truthfully. "Anyway, to what do I owe the honor of your visit so early in the morning?"
"We are here to take you to the cafeteria to get some breakfast Saki," Misu stated matter-of-factly. "Thanks guys, but I'm not hungry," Gii replied softly. "You might not have any appetite, but hungry or not you must eat something," Akaike said with determination. "Don't think we haven't noticed that you have been skipping meals several times this past week. You will accompany us to the cafeteria to get some food and no ifs or buts about it! I understand that this time is way harder for you than it is for us, given your special relationship with Hayama, but you can't neglect your health. It's already bad enough that you need medicine in order to get some hours of decent sleep at night."
For several moments the amber-haired boy wordlessly studied the faces of his friends, the expressions they had on them making it clear that they would book no opposition whatsoever. "Alright, alright, you have made your point," he finally replied meekly. "Good boy. Let's go," Misu stated sternly, and pushed his rival determinedly towards the door.
The cafeteria was quieter than usual that morning, another sign that summer holidays had begun, and the boys had no trouble in finding a table big enough for five people. "So, are you guys finished with packing and ready to go home for the summer," Gii asked, picking away at his food. "No, we aren't because we won't be going anywhere," Akaike answered nonchalantly. "What," the handsome upper-class man exclaimed as the other boys nodded in agreement to Akaike's words. "I…I can't…I can't let you do this," he stammered, momentarily at a loss for words. "You should leave Shidou and enjoy the summer. It's more than enough that mine is ruined. There's no need for yours to be ruined as well."
"Don't be ridiculous, Saki," Misu said forcefully. "Do you really think we could enjoy ourselves without a care, knowing that you are here, dwelling on your gloomy thoughts and drowning in self-loathing? Well, think again! The way you are right now you sincerely need some protection from yourself. Besides, recently my duties as president of the student council have kept me so busy that I barely had time for my studies and because of that I had planned to stay at Shidou anyway over the summer holidays to catch up with them."
"The same goes for me," Akaike explained. "Being third-years we are going to be very busy after the start of the new school term with studying for the regular exams, entrance exams and the central exam. So, summer vacation is a good time to hit the books in order to review and to get ahead to a certain degree." "And staying at Shidou for the next five weeks doesn't mean that we can't have any fun and enjoy ourselves," Toshihisa added, smiling brightly. "We could always go on a one-day trip or something of the sort to divert our thoughts for a while and to improve our spirits. That goes especially for you Gii, ne Shingyouji?"
The so addressed boy nodded in agreement. "Correct and as for me, I have the choice to either go home and listen to my parents' arguing all day or stay here with my friends. So, staying at Shidou over the summer was not exactly a difficult decision to make. On top of that I can't help but feel that it's our duty as your and Hayama-san's friends to support you as best as we can under the current circumstances and that means to stay by your side." "Thank you guys," Gii said hoarsely. "I'll make it up to you, I promise." "Don't mention it," Akaike replied with a smile and patted his best friend's back reassuringly. "You would do the same thing if one of us had to go through a similar hardship. And now finish your breakfast. We won't allow you to leave this table until you have."
oOo
The following days went by agonizingly slowly and were relatively uneventful. The boys took care of Gii, trying to divert him and to cheer him up as best as they could. With him being somber and melancholic most of the time it had quickly become obvious that their decision to stay with the handsome upper-class man had been the right choice. It was on Saturday afternoon of the third week since Takumi's admittance to the hospital that things took a rather unexpected turn.
Gii was sitting at his desk, trying in vain to focus on a book about business management, in order to distract his thoughts at least for a little while from his beloved, when the PA system went off.
"Third-year student Saki Giichi, you have a visitor," a male voice announced. "Please report to the secretariat immediately." Gii placed his reading down in surprise and rose from his seat, frowning slightly. "What's the meaning of this," he murmured as he left the dorm and hastened over to the main building. "I don't expect any visitors." When he walked up to the front desk of the secretariat he was instantly approached by a middle-aged woman. "Thank you Saki-kun for coming in so quickly. A doctor Asano is here to see you," she explained with a friendly smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I asked him to wait for you in the visitor's room."
Gii couldn't help but gasp upon hearing that his visitor was none other than Takumi's attending physician, but quickly regained his composure. "Thank you," he replied politely and bowed slightly before making his way down the short corridor to meet the doctor, his heart going about a mile a minute. "Konnichiwa Saki-kun," he was greeted by the middle-aged man as soon as he had entered the room. "This visit must be quite surprising and rather unexpected for you." "It is indeed," Gii replied, worry written all over his handsome features.
"How is Takumi? Is there anything wrong?" "What I'm about to say and do will cost me my job, if someone should find out," doctor Asano began. "Having said this much, I have no doubt of your and your friends' secrecy." He fell silent for a brief moment, but continued as soon as Gii had nodded his understanding. "Now to answer your question about Hayama-kun's condition, physically he is doing fine and shortly after he had regained consciousness he was transferred to a regular ward. His rib fractures and bruises are healing well and there haven't been any complications. It's his mental condition I'm concerned about." "What do you mean," the amber-haired boy asked anxiously, sincerely alarmed by the doctor's words. "Well, it is as follows…," the older man began.
Takumi was lying in his hospital bed and stared out the window, sighing dejectedly from time to time, paying no attention to the movie that flickered over the screen of the room's television. The tray that sat on the table by his bedside, carrying his lunch, was still untouched and the food had gone cold a good while ago, but the boy couldn't care less. These past few days he had been having no appetite at all and more than once his meals had been taken away either only half eaten or completely untouched. A lone tear trickled down his pale, slightly cavernous cheeks and a sad, pained sigh escaped his lips when the sound of someone entering the room brought him back from the melancholic thoughts that were often occupying his mind these days.
"Konnichiwa Hayama-kun," doctor Asano greeted the boy and offered him a warm, friendly smile. "Konnichiwa sensei," Takumi replied weakly, forcing his lips to curl up. "You seem upset and unhappy," the middle-aged man said warily, the melancholy reflecting in his patient's chocolate-colored orbs not escaping his own keen eyes. "I heard from the head nurse that you haven't been eating well these past few days, that you appear gloomy and depressed and that you're even crying from time to time. What's wrong Hayama-kun, won't you tell me?"
"Ano, to begin with I have been confined to this bed these two and a half weeks," Takumi explained hesitantly. "There's nothing to do except for reading or watching TV and days are passing so slowly. Recently they seem to be endless." His voice trailed off and for a moment his eyes grew distant again. "I see," doctor Asano replied softly. "But concerning the prescription of bed rest I have some good news for you. From the end of this week you'll be allowed to leave your bed temporarily which means at least for an hour or two every day, depending on your physical condition. So, you should eat regularly and well in order to regain your strength as quickly as possible. However, I feel that there's another reason for your dampened spirits, am I right?"
Takumi nodded slowly and a sad smile played about his mouth. "I'm feeling lonely," he finally sighed, his voice barely more than a whisper. "My parents only visit me on weekends and for the rest of the week I'm all alone except for the short moments when the nurses come to check upon me or when there's ward round. It seems that there isn't anybody who cares about me." He fell silent again, furiously wiping away the tears that had begun to flow down his cheeks. "You told me that I'm a third-year student at a high school called Shidou Gakuin," he sniffed.
"I can't remember anything about school, but I don't seem to have many friends, if I have any at all. Since my admittance to the hospital nobody from Shidou has ever stopped by for a visit and so far I haven't received any flowers or 'get-well' wishes from any of my classmates even though I've already been here for almost three weeks…" "Oh Hayama-kun," the middle-aged man replied softly and his heart went out for the boy. "There are people who care a lot about you, believe me, I know. So, cheer up and be brave. Everything's going to be alright, you'll see. I promise." With that the doctor rose from the edge of the bed and smiled reassuringly at his young patient before leaving the room.
"That's the present state of affairs," doctor Asano finished with a sigh. "Are you saying that Takumi's parents have left their son's side, leaving him to fend for himself," Gii growled in disbelief, clenching his fists in anger.
"I'm afraid so and I have to admit that I was very much puzzled by their behavior," the older man replied. "The relationship between Hayama-kun and his parents seems to be rather peculiar. Once he had regained his consciousness, his father immediately returned home to resume his work and I can understand that. Being a business man is a tough job after all. However, the way Hayama-kun's mother acted was quite strange and, at least as far as I'm concerned, not understandable. During the first week after Hayama-kun's admittance she stayed by his bedside every day, but as soon as he began to show signs of remembering she left her son's side. Both parents don't seem to be very close to their son and I can tell that this fact genuinely pains him. On top of that their order to bar you and the other boys from visiting your friend hasn't been revoked."
"I can't believe it," Gii muttered under his breath, too shocked and enraged by what he had just heard to realize the doctor's positive remark concerning Takumi's memory loss. "How could they do that to him, leaving him alone in his delicate state?" "I've been asking myself the same thing," doctor Asano replied with sincerity, "and it's my worry for Hayama-kun's wellbeing that has brought me here. I'm perfectly aware that I'm way exceeding my competences, not to mention that I'm going expressly against the orders of my patient's parents and more importantly the law, but I ask you and the other boys to pay Hayama-kun a secret visit. He begins to show signs of a depression and that's the last thing he needs right now, his mental condition being presently delicate enough as it is."
"You are referring to Takumi's amnesia, aren't you," Gii inquired alarmed and narrowed his eyes in concern. "Amongst other things," the middle-aged man replied hesitantly. "The edema in his brain has been treated successfully and as expected his amnesia was at least partly related to it. As I've mentioned before some of your friend's memories began to return as soon as the edema in his brain had started to detumesce. At present Hayama-kun can remember his name, his family and seemingly everything that is related to his family life. However, so far he has been unable to recover anything else. His memories of his elementary school and junior high school days are already extremely patchy, quasi nonexistent and he can't recollect anything related to his life at Shidou Gakuin. That's another reason why I want you to visit your friend. In his condition even the smallest things like a name, a face or the sound of a voice can have a stimulating effect on his brain and trigger his memory."
"I see," Gii sighed and hung his head, unable to conceal his disappointment. "And as I already pointed out, there is another problem," doctor Asano continued after a brief moment of silence. "Hayama-kun seems to be developing a fear of touching others and of being touched." "Takumi isn't developing that fear," the amber-haired boy explained weakly, squeezing his eyes shut in the futile attempt to handle the blow he had just gotten without losing his poise. "He's having a relapse. When Takumi first came to Shidou he was afraid of people getting close to him or touching him. His illness was even certified by a doctor."
"Hayama-kun's recent medical history doesn't mention anything about that," the older man exclaimed, taken aback. "However that may be, I'm truly sorry that I couldn't give you the good news you had probably been hoping for concerning your friend and his mental condition." With that the doctor fell silent and placed his hand gently onto Gii's shoulder, trying to provide some sort of comfort for the boy. "Thank you, sensei for telling me everything," Gii said hoarsely, his hazel-brown eyes brimming with unshed tears.
"Don't despair, Saki-kun," doctor Asano said compassionately. "The present situation might be serious, but it's far from being hopeless. I know all this must be difficult for you to handle, but keep your chin up and try to remain strong, for Hayama-kun's sake." The amber-haired boy nodded almost imperceptibly and took a deep breath in order to regain his composure.
"When would be the best time for us to visit Takumi, without getting you into trouble," he asked weakly. "According to the nurses the boy's parents usually leave between three and four o'clock on Sunday afternoons to return home," the older man explained. "Considering that and the fact that I'm on dayshift tomorrow, I'd say sometime after three o'clock or three thirty would be the most convenient time to stop by. I could notify you once Hayama-san and his wife are safely gone." "Alright sensei, by the time your call comes we'll be ready to leave immediately," Gii declared resolutely, the mere thought of finally being able to see his beloved after all that time giving him new strength. He was resolved to do everything in his power to help his fiancé no matter how difficult it was going to be. "That's the right attitude, Saki-kun," doctor Asano exclaimed, patting the boy's shoulder reassuringly. "I see you tomorrow then." Gii nodded in agreement and with that the two conspirers exchanged their goodbyes.
On the way back to his dorm the handsome upper-class man fished his mobile phone out of his pocket and hastily dialed his best friend's number. "Moshi moshi Gii, what's up," Akaike's voice greeted him after only a few seconds. "Shouzo, please come to my room as quickly as you can," Gii informed the other boy briskly, "and contact Toshihisa. I'll call Misu and Shingyouji. Doctor Asano just paid me a visit and we need to talk. It's important!" "Hayama's attending physician came to see you," Akaike repeated perplexed. "Well, that's a surprise to be sure. Toshihisa is with me right now and we could make it back to the dorms in about ten to fifteen minutes." "Alright, see you then," the amber-haired boy replied before ending the call and looking for Misu's number in his phone's directory. Only about half an hour later all five boys were assembled in room 300 where Gii filled them in with the details of his meeting and the conversation with Takumi's physician.
oOo
The wistfully anticipated call came around half past three the following afternoon and since the boys had decided to go to town after lunch in order to buy a few presents for their friend and to make the wait more bearable, it took them mere twenty minutes to get to the hospital. Gii carried a large bouquet of flowers, Misu had a bag containing some books of his roommate's favorite writer, Toshihisa held a basket with fruits, snacks and sweets and Shingyouji had his arms wrapped around a big, beautiful, golden-brown teddy bear. When they opened the doors at the entrance of the ward doctor Asano was already waiting for them at the nurse's station.
"I see you've come well prepared," he chuckled as he let his eyes wander over the presents the boys were carrying. "Hayama-kun will be so elated. He doesn't know that you are here." "How is he," Gii asked cautiously. "His spirits seem to have improved a little and he obediently ate all of his breakfast and lunch today," the doctor replied. "Concerning your visit, I must ask you to go easy on your friend. He'll definitely be excited and most likely a little confused because he can't recall your names and faces. It's alright to answer his questions, to tell him about his relationship with you and that sort of stuff, but since all this is going to be a lot for him to process, please try not to mention anything that could either overexcite or shock him."
The boys nodded their understanding and the middle-aged man led them down the corridor towards Takumi's room. "Let me go in first and, oh yes, one more thing," he explained as they had arrived. "I'm sure Saki-kun has already told you that your friend's phobia has returned. Even light touches agitate and scare him, so please refrain from touching him." The group nodded again and the doctor entered Takumi's room, leaving the door slightly open.
"Hello Hayama-kun, how are you feeling this afternoon," he greeted his patient cheerfully. "I'm alright I guess," the boy replied softly and behind the door Gii's heart skipped a beat. The fact that he could hear Takumi's voice again after three agonizingly long weeks and that, in a few, short minutes, he would be able to see his beloved's face made him incandescently happy, despite the grim truth that his fiancé couldn't remember anything about him or their relationship.
"Is anything wrong sensei," Takumi asked, his voice laced with concern. "Usually you don't come to check on me on Sundays." "Don't worry, everything is alright," doctor Asano answered with a reassuring smile. "I'm here because I have a surprise for you." "A surprise," the boy repeated excitedly, blinking his eyes several times in disbelief. "Yes," the older man said mysteriously. "You know what, your friends are here and they are desperate to see you."
He had barely finished the sentence when the door opened and Gii, Akaike, Misu, Toshihisa and Shingyouji practically burst into the room, each boy grinning from ear to ear. "Konnichiwa," they exclaimed in unison and hurried to their friend's bedside. "It's so good to see you!" "Konnichiwa minna," Takumi replied smiling, his eyes reflecting a mix of happiness, excitement and shyness. "You see Hayama-kun, I told you that there are people who worry about you and now I'll leave you to the care of your friends," the doctor said, smiling warmly before he took his leave and closed the door from the outside.
Once he had left a brief moment of awkward silence fell between the six boys before Shingyouji finally decided to speak up. "Well, maybe we should introduce ourselves first," he said smiling warmly at his senpai and friend. "My name is Shingyouji Kanemitsu. I'm one year younger than you and I'm in second grade, but even though we're not classmates you and I are good friends. I bought a little present for you. I hope you'll like it." With that the raven-haired second-year student stepped closer to Takumi's bed and placed the teddy bear gently onto his friend's lap. "This fluffy fellow will keep you company when we can't be around," he explained smiling. "Please take good care of him and be sure to give him a cute name."
"Thank you so much, Shingyouji-kun. This teddy is so soft and beautiful. I'll definitely find a good name for my new friend," Takumi exclaimed with sparkling eyes and hugged the bear tightly to his chest. "Now let me introduce the rest of the gang to you," the younger boy continued. "Please meet Katakura Toshihisa, Akaike Shouzo, Misu Arata and Saki Giichi aka Gii, your…hmmm…closest friend of all." "It's nice to meet you all…again and thank you so much for all the presents," the ebony-haired third-year said smiling shyly and a lump began to form in his throat. "I wish I could remember all of you guys."
"You will remember everything, including us, in next to no time, I'm sure of it," Gii replied gently, his voice soft and soothing. "Just be patient and don't despair. Keep in mind that you aren't alone, that we will be always by your side and do everything in our power to help you recover your memories." "Thank you," Takumi stammered hoarsely, Gii's warm and affectionate words causing his beautiful dark eyes to cloud over. "Takumi," the handsome upper-class man asked concerned when he noticed a tear trickling down his fiancé's cheek. "What's wrong?" "Are you in pain," Misu piped in equally worried. "Shall I go and get the nurse?"
Takumi shook his head vehemently in response. "I'm alright, really," he sniffed, another tear making its way down the side of his delicate face. "Then why are you crying," Toshihisa inquired in a gentle tone. "There's nothing wrong with me, so please don't worry. It's just that I'm so happy and relieved to know that I have some friends in this world," the other boy answered, smiling shyly through his tears. "During these past three weeks nobody ever came to see me, so I began to think that I don't have any friends at school, that there isn't anybody who likes me and cares about me, nobody who is interested to know what has become of me…" His voice trailed off and he hugged the teddy bear tightly as the salty drops continued to flow down his cheeks.
"Oh, Takumi," Gii breathed softly and instinctively reached out to brush the tears off his beloved's face with his thumb, but as soon as Takumi felt the ginger touch he lashed out, his breathing quickening noticeably and he jerked quickly away from the other boy's touch. "Go-Gomen…Saki-kun…I didn't…I didn't mean to…I…," he stammered clumsily between ragged breaths, once the realization of what he had just done began to sink in. "No, I'm the one who is sorry," the handsome upper-class man replied with sincerity. "I have been acting without thinking. The doctor told us beforehand that you don't like to be touched."
"Well then Hayama, shall we enjoy some fruits and chat for a while," Akaike stepped in helpfully before the situation could get any more tensed and awkward. "I'm sure you must a lot of questions." "Yes, I have indeed," Takumi exclaimed and Gii gave his best friend a grateful nod of appreciation for his help. For the following two hours the six friends chatted animatedly about this and that and the boys patiently answered all of Takumi's questions as best as they could, filling him in with details about their relationship and his life at Shidou Gakuin. Bearing doctor Asano's warning about overexciting or upsetting their friend in mind, the boys refrained from revealing the fact that Takumi's and Gii's relationship went far beyond a close friendship and that Shingyouji and Misu were romantically involved as well. That would be a conversation for another time when they would all be back together at Shidou and after Takumi would have gotten used again to the life and the daily routine at school.
"Ano, I think that's enough information and excitement for one afternoon," Akaike finished their chat with a glance at his wrist watch. "You should rest for a while until dinner time and we should get going as well, if we want to back at school and grab supper before the cafeteria closes." The others nodded in agreement and Takumi couldn't help but sigh dejectedly at the thought of being left alone again. "Don't be cast down," Gii said softly, smiling warmly at his one and only. "We'll come to visit again as soon as we can, that's a promise." With that he and the others rose from their chairs.
"Before you leave, can I ask you one more thing," the ebony-haired boy asked shyly. "Sure, what is it that you want to know," Misu replied good-naturedly. "From what you told me we all are really close friends, so why did you never come to see me prior to today?" For a moment the boys remained silent and exchanged a few glances that Takumi couldn't quite interpret. "We wanted to visit you," Gii finally explained. "We really did, but we were not allowed to." "Not allowed," the other boy repeated, confusion written all over his face. "But why? I don't understand. I've been doing fine since I regained consciousness." "There is a reason Hayama," Akaike added carefully. "However, I feel it's not our place to tell you. If you want to know you should ask Asano-sensei. I'm sure he'll explain it to you."
"I will," Takumi answered with a look of determination on his soft features. "Anyway, thank you again so much for coming and for all the gifts. Today was the first time since my admittance to this place that I felt truly happy." "That's wonderful," Gii stated, smiling affectionately. "Good bye Takumi. We'll see each other again soon." Once the ebony-haired boy had exchanged his goodbyes with the rest of his friends, they quietly took their leave.
They were just about to step through the large glass doors of the ward's entrance when a nurse who had been working behind the counter of the nurse's station approached them. "Excuse me, are you the students from Shidou Gakuin?" When the boys nodded she pulled out an envelope from her breast pocket. "Asano-sensei asked me to give this to you." With that she handed Gii the mailer and after bowing slightly she went back to the desk and resumed her work. The boys eyed their friend curiously and he tilted his head motioning wordlessly towards the doors.
As soon as the group had reached the bus stop Gii opened the envelope and pulled out a small, single sheet of paper which had a few lines neatly written on it. The handsome upper-class man read the short message and smiling brightly he handed it to the others who showed a similar reaction to the contents written on it. "That's great," Toshihisa exclaimed in excitement as he handed the paper back to Gii. "Asano-sensei must be really devoted to the wellbeing of his patients, if he's willing to take such a big risk." "So it would seem," the amber-haired boy replied, re-reading the message that stated simply:
Saki-kun,
Just seeing Hayama-kun's reaction this afternoon when you and the boys entered the room convinced me that going against his parents' orders and letting you see him was the right decision, even though a risky one where I'm concerned, but for Hayama-kun's sake I'm willing to take that risk. From Monday to Thursday you can safely visit your friend any time after lunch hours. The two head nurses are informed about this and they can be trusted to keep this affair secret.
Sincerely, Asano Kengo
For the following four days Gii returned to his beloved's bedside every afternoon, one day by himself, the other accompanied by the rest of the boys and even though there were no changes in regard to Takumi's amnesia as well as his phobia the handsome upper-class man was happy because his fiancés physical condition was improving daily. While Takumi's cheeks had been pale on the day of Gii's and the boys' first visit, they were glowing in light shade of pink towards the end of the week and his eyes that had been sad and dull were sparkling brightly.
For most part of the day Takumi could be found out of bed, sitting by the window reading, even short visits to the hospital's cafeteria had soon become possible and so, on Thursday afternoon, the six friends occupied a large table in that, for hospital standards, quite comfortable location. "Well, only one more week and you're going to be back with us at Shidou. Are you excited," Shingyouji asked curiously. "I'm really happy that I'll finally be able to leave the hospital, but to be honest I'm a little nervous about going back to school," Takumi replied hesitantly.
"Because of your amnesia," Gii asked gently and the ebony-haired boy nodded almost imperceptibly. "Don't worry. As I said before, we'll always be by your side, ready to help you whenever you need us," the handsome upper-class man explained softly, his deep voice warm and soothing. "Everything is going to be alright." The other boys nodded in agreement and a grateful, relieved smile slowly formed on Takumi's lips. "Thank you." Thus reassured by his friends he continued to chat with them until it was time for the boys to leave. "We'll visit you again on Sunday afternoon," Misu said, smiling mildly. "You know why Hayama, don't you?"
"Asano-sensei has told me everything," Takumi confirmed and a sad sigh escaped his lips. "I'm really sorry for my parents' behavior towards you guys." "Don't worry about it," Akaike said encouragingly. "What's more important, are you going to be alright?" "I guess so," the ebony-haired boy replied softly. "And I also have my new fluffy friend for comfort and company." "Oh yes, that reminds me of something I wanted to ask," Shingyouji piped in. "Have you already decided on a name for the bear?"
"Yes, I have," the older boy beamed. "I've named him 'Dai-chan'." When Gii heard the name he gasped and almost choked on the rest of his coffee, which caused the others to give him questioning glances. "What is it, Gii," Toshihisa asked curiously. "It's nothing," the amber-haired boy answered quickly and turned to face his fiancé. "Why did you pick that particular name?" "No special reason," Takumi replied truthfully. "But last Sunday, after you had left, I looked at the teddy bear for some time and 'Dai-chan' was the first name that came to my mind." "I see," Gii murmured, grinning from ear to ear as they exchanged their goodbyes.
Even when the group was walking towards the bus stop that grin refused to disappear. "What's with that expression Saki," Misu finally inquired frowning. "Ever since Hayama has told us the name he's chosen for that teddy bear you've been wearing this silly grin. What's so special about that name?" "A few weeks after we had become roommates I showed Takumi some pictures of my family's house, including my room," Gii explained smiling. "As a child I had a few plush toys, but when I moved from the US back to Japan I was already fifteen years old and consequently I didn't take any of my stuffed animals with me except for a big teddy bear, I had received from my parents on my sixth birthday. When Takumi asked me if it had a name I told him that the bear is called 'Dai-chan'."
"That explains everything," Akaike remarked chuckling. "Not to mention that it's a good sign in regard to Hayama's amnesia." "Yes, it is," the amber-haired boy replied. "As the old saying goes 'every cloud has a silver lining'. The fact that Takumi remembers that particular name, even though he doesn't recall where it originally comes from, gives me hope that, in time, he will eventually remember everything."
oOo
The following day, when Takumi's parents arrived they immediately noticed the flowers, fruits and other presents at their son's bedside upon entering the room. "Who are these things from? Who sent them to you," the boy's father asked in a commanding voice. "Hello mother, hello father, I'm doing much better than last week. Thank you for asking," Takumi replied pertly, without trying to hide the annoyance that was evident in his voice. "As for your question, the nurses informed me that the bouquet was sent to me by the school and that the other items are presents from friends and classmates," he lied bluntly, determined not to cause any trouble for his attending physician as well as his friends.
"I see," Hayama senior murmured somewhat huffy, the expression on his face indicating that he was less than pleased. "Anyway, 'school' is a good cue," he continued. "Your mother and I have something we want to speak to you about regarding that topic." "What do you mean," Takumi asked suspiciously, a sense of foreboding causing his heartbeat to speed up a pace. "Well, to put it simple we think that, considering your present condition, it would be better for you to take a temporary leave of absence from school and to come back home with us until you are fully recovered," the boy's father explained in a business-like manner. "In consideration of the current circumstances the board of teachers will undoubtedly agree to grant you such a leave and to assure that you won't fall behind with your studies we can hire a full-time tutor to teach you until your condition allows you a return to Shidou."
"No, no and no," the ebony-haired boy, whose face had grown darker with every single word the other man had said, exclaimed enraged. "I don't want to go home and stay shut up in our house! I want to return to school, continue with my studies there and rejoin my friends!" "But Takumi, try to be rational. In your condition…," Mrs. Hayama began only to be interrupted almost instantly by her son. "Don't treat me like a child and stop talking as if I were suffering from a mental disease because I'm not," he shouted furiously. "I have amnesia that's all and there's no reason to force me to leave school because of it! And if 'my condition' refers to my fear of human contact as well, that has never been an issue before and if I should encounter any difficulties I have my friends I can turn to for help and support!"
"Oh yes, your so-called friends," Hayama senior huffed in annoyance. "If they had taken better care of you back then, none of this would have happened. Don't mention them to me!" "Father, that's not fair," Takumi exclaimed forcefully. "I may not be able to remember what happened that night four weeks ago, but I'm sure that if my friends could have protected me they would have done so. They can't be held responsible for what happened to me! So, stop pinning all the blame on them! Is that why you forbade them to come and see me?"
"Who told you about that," the boy's mother asked appalled. "Nobody did," Takumi lied half-shouting without hesitating or blinking. "I overheard the medical staff talking about it, the day the presents were delivered!" His voice momentarily trailed off and he cast his eyes. "How could you be so cruel," he finally asked, his voice blaming and accusing as he looked back up to meet his parents' gazes again, his own eyes blazing with sheer anger. "Have you ever, even for one minute considered my feelings when you made the decision to keep my friends away from me? Have you any idea how sad and depressed I have been feeling these past few weeks? Your decision caused me to think that there isn't anyone who cares about me, that I don't have any friends! Can you imagine how lonely and deserted I felt? How could you do that to me?"
"We only did what we thought was best," Mrs. Hayama replied forcefully. "We were only worried about you, we still are." "Since when," the ebony-haired boy bellowed and his shoulders began to tremble with fury and despair. "You never cared about me! The only one you ever loved and treated like a son was Naoto!" "Takumi, that's enough! You are being disrespectful," Hayama senior exclaimed harshly, but the boy was too upset to care. "Disrespectful am I," he roared, seething with rage, unable to hide is true feelings any longer. "I can't recall much of my past, but I do remember everything about our family and life at so-called home! I remember that I was never in your sight, that you treated me almost as if I didn't exist and that you had only eyes for Naoto. I remember clearly what my brother did to me and how you reacted when you found out, how you came to his defense and blamed me for everything without taking the trouble to listen to me!"
"Taku…," the boy's mother began meekly, but was immediately cut off. "You never gave a damn! So, don't start patronizing me now," Takumi screamed, tears of fury streaming down his cheeks. He knew his words had been harsh, too harsh maybe, but he just hadn't been able to help himself. It was bad and sad enough that he couldn't remember much of his past, that the memories he could recall were anything but pleasant, but the callousness of his parents, their continued unfeeling response to him and his wishes, even under the present circumstances, had simply become too much for the boy to bear and he was hurting. "I definitely won't leave the school and my friends to return with you to our house in Shizuoka," he added, his voice cracking with rage, "not even for one single day!"
A grave silence settled between the boy and his parents and for several moments they could only stare at their son who was shaking violently and drenched in tears, completely overcome by his emotions. "Really Takumi, stop making such a fuss already and calm down," Hayama senior finally stated with a mix of impatience and anger evident in his voice and grabbed one of his son's shoulders. "Don't touch me," the ebony-haired boy yelled and lashed out hard at the older man, brushing him off abrasively. "D-Don't come…near me," he stuttered his breath beginning to come out in short, fast pants, his trembling body growing tense. "Stay away!"
"What's going on in here," the stern but concerned voice of the head nurse could suddenly be heard from the door only a few seconds later and the slender, middle-aged woman rushed immediately to Takumi's side when she noticed the condition the boy was in, his great distress. "Hayama-kun, it's me nurse Emiko. What happened," she asked gently. "No-Nothing…I…I'm…alright," Takumi stammered weakly, reaching out for his teddy bear that sat next to the pillow. "I'll immediately send for doctor Asano to check on you, just in case," the nurse explained in a soothing voice. "Do you need anything?"
When the ebony-haired boy shook his head in denial the woman turned to Hayama senior and his wife. "Your son seems to be troubled by something and is greatly agitated. I think it's better if you leave for a while until he has calmed down and the doctor has checked on him" she stated in a commanding voice and ushered the couple out of the room before they had any chance to object. Before closing the door from the outside Takumi's parents glanced one more time at their son who was clutching the teddy bear tightly to his chest, rocking slowly back and forth as he sobbed quietly into its soft, fluffy fur.
A/N: My dear readers, please forgive me my fit of fan-girliness, but I just couldn't resist. To call the teddy bear 'Dai-chan' was simply too tempting!
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.
And as usual, at least 5 reviews=update with a new chapter