AN: Sometimes I don't know why I bother… oh well. Here's an update.
Chapter 4 My Limit's are pushed
The days went by. If Ron was still having these, "visions" for lack of a better term, he was keeping them to himself. Poiyo doubted they had stopped, because Ron had been unable to properly record "Eject Note" the other day. He was too stressed out to properly do the job, and Poiyo was sure he hadn't been sleeping well either. Both he and Poine had also caught him arguing with himself in the mirror. Needless to say, they where worried. Especially when he woke this morning stumbling out of his room, and blood soaking the back of his shirt. It was just one gash, but it was long, and went across nearly the enter length of his back.
He hissed as Poine pressed a cloth soaked in disinfectant against the wound. Her brother had gone out to get some bandages. Ron refused to let them call in Master. It was just something stupid, he had said.
"So, what was it? Was it… another one of those dreams? Like the one that damaged-"
"I don't want to talk about it." Ron snapped.
Poine flinched. He sounded so angry. But, what else could it have been? There was no damage to the shirt he had been wearing, and no one broke in last night, and he couldn't have done this himself.
"But, what else could it have been?"
"I Said I don't want to Talk about it!"
She dabbed the cloth against his back. He wasn't denying it. He was just refusing to talk about it. She secretly hopped Poiyo was calling Master behind Ron's back while he was out. But, she knew he would respect Ron's wishes. It wasn't too serious, nothing the ARS couldn't handle. But still… what was happening, was impossible, wasn't it?
Suddenly Ron grabbed the nearby bowl of water and chucked it across the room, causing it to collide with the mirror. He threw it with such force the mirror cracked, and some pieces even fell from its place. Had it been a harder object, over just a plastic bowl, she had no doubt the mirror would have shattered. She sat there, starring at him, wide eyes. She had never seen him so angry. In fact, she was scared. Ron suddenly seemed to take notice of this, and even looked around the room. Water was now everywhere, and Poine was sitting on the bed, hand held to her chest, looking at him with wide eyes.
"Ron, what's happening to you?" she asked him.
Was he really changing that much? Had he really scared her? He turned his head away. The doppelganger had started to taunt him and tease him and he had lost his temper with him. Even the look of shock and surprise on that bastards face wasn't enough to satisfy him.
"I'm sorry…" He said, turning to walk away. A hand on his wrist stopped him.
"Hold up, your back is still in pain, and the wound open and exposed. Just, sit here, I'll get some towels and such to clean up the mess."
He did as she said and sat down, while she left to get the towels. He buried his face in his hands. Was he really breaking this easily?
"Am I really so weak?"
"Probably. But hey, perhaps I'm not the best person to judge that." That voice came with its snide over tone, and pompous attitude.
Ron held his head.
"Shut up. Just shut up!"
Not another word was said however, as Poine returned with a few towels and a small trash bag. Her brother fallowed in behind her with a bag from the local pharmacy store. He watched a moment as Poine threw the towels on the mess, before dabbing to clean it up a bit.
Poiyo sighed before going over to the bed, and pulling out the supplies he bought.
"So, what happened?" he asked simply, applying an ointment over the gash, causing Ron to wince.
"… I lost my temper for a moment… that's all. Don't worry, it wasn't directed at Poine…"
"Then who was it directed at?" came the dreaded question.
Ron hesitated to answer. In fact, Poiyo had made three cycles over the gash before he finally decided to.
"My doppelganger, from the mirror." There was a strong pause in the room. Like time had stopped or something. Ron hadn't mentioned anything about this for days now. He had done a good job hiding it. But then again, they hadn't asked.
Poiyo scoffed. They probably should have been asking about it.
"And this doppelganger. What does he look like?"
Ron got the feeling he was just trying to humor him, but he answer anyway.
"He likes to wear the color black, for one… he looks just like me, but with blond hair. Save for the liking of the color black, and the blond hair, he looks exactly like me. Down to the last detail. Even my eye color…"
He honestly expected Poiyo to brush it off, or tell him he was probably just imagining it, or how stupid it was. He really was. But his friend said nothing, just continued to bandage his back.
"Is he here now?"
Ron, hadn't been expecting that. Still, he looked over the heavily cracked mirror.
"…No."
"So, is it only when you're the only one in the room?"
"No, he shows up, when other people are around. But he chooses to or not."
"…I see."
Part of Ron wanted to ask his friend why he was humoring him.
He winced once more as Poiyo pulled the bandages a bit tighter and tied them off.
"There. That should do."
Poine stood up, the bag now filled a bit with the broken glass and items, and the towels rather wet, but for the most part the mess was cleaned.
"I'm all done too."
"Alright. Ron, we'll leave you alone for a bit okay? Just, come out when you're ready."
Ron turned around and flopped back down on his bed, back up of course, and sighed heavily. He was barley dealing with this, and felt like he was going to go crazy. He needed to forget, to silence it, get Rid of it. And at this point, he didn't care if it would only be a temporary solution. As long as it was a solution.
When Ron came out, he saw his friends sitting at the table, they had obviously been talking, and looked up as soon as he came out. Ron looked at them, and couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt, and perhaps even dread.
"Ron, we…" Poine started, but faltered. She was generally lazy, yes, picky yes, but never shy. So, what she afraid of him? Ron gritted his teeth. He had done that.
"We think you should go and see Master again… have another scan done-"
"And what good would it do?" Ron snapped. "It was clean remember? 3 hours of getting my throat put back together, another 7 of scans to my head, with everything shy of cracking my skull open. If it didn't do any good then, what good would it do Now?"
Poine flinched, while Poiyo remained calm. He didn't blame Ron. In fact, some of those scans had been run twice because Master Matsuda, and Master Keyl couldn't believe they had come up clean. Ron hated being there to begin with, so he honestly didn't blame this out burst.
"Ron, I know you don't like it, but maybe they just missed something."
"Missed something? That's why half the time was spent waiting for them to go over that with a fine-toothed comb, Then running those tests, AGAIN. Forget it! If they could help they would have already Done so!" Ron snapped back and turned for the door.
Poiyo got up from his seat at the table.
"Where do you think you are going?"
"Anywhere, I don't care. Just Out."
"But you're Hurt!" Poine said joining her brother.
"Ask me if I care!"
"Ron!"
The slamming of the door was Poiyo's only answer. He hesitated. He hesitated for good reason. Poine ran past him, but he stopped her.
"What are you doing?" she asked turning to him.
"If we follow him, he'll only get more stressed out. And if we get insistent, we'll probably get punched. I've never seen him like this. But, something tells me we should just let him be, and do his own thing for a bit. We can call him later to find out if he's okay…" Poiyo said. He seemed to have convinced his sister, who only nodded, and sat down on the couch.
Now, if only he could convince himself of his own words…
Lily and Meiko walked into their favorite bar. After 7, work for the day was done, and they where ready to party. As they walked up to the bar however, Lily saw something that made her pause.
"What's up?" Meiko asked looking at her friend. They hadn't even started drinking yet, and already Lily was zoning out.
"Ah… Meiko.. do you see what I see?"
"Hmm?"
Meiko looked over her friends shoulder, and her jaw dropped.
Ron was sitting at the bar, head resting on one of his arms, a half empty glass in his other hand.
That, was something they never thought they'd see. Especially after he swore it off after the time they crashed his "18th" Birthday party. Hesitantly, Lily walked over.
"Ron?"
At the sound of his name, he jolted, jerking his head up. In which case he then gave her a stupid grin.
"oh… heya Lisly."
"…. Lisly?"
Okay, he was very drunk.
Stupid grin or not, she couldn't help but note that he looked kinda cute when he smiled. For a brief moment, she considered taking advantage of the situation. But then, the whole idea just felt, wrong. She wasn't drunk enough for that.
"Yeahz, hi, itz good ta seee you."
"Ron… what happened to you?"
"…" At the question the smile fell from his face.
Meiko joined Lily.
"It's not like you to drink…"
"I needed to get away…" he replied looking at what was left of his drink.
Wow, that had been perfectly understandable.
"Get away from what?" Meiko asked, urging for more information.
"From the demon livgs in mai mirror…" was the reply.
The two women looked at each other. Oooookay…
"What do you mean by that Ron?" Lily asked.
"Every time Iz look in to somethin shiniez, I see him. He's got mai face, but hez not me… and he likes to try and kill me, every night."
The girls sat looking at him. Saying nothing. When they didn't respond, he continued.
"Masutars did everything but crack mai head opoen like en egg, and they say, everything is… runnings normals. Does this sound, Normals to you? Does it? So I thought, this stuuffz works for everyas one's else… so Why not?" And his head hit the counter.
"itz working… I wasn'tz even tinking about itz tillz now…"
The two woman looked at each other again. Okay… he was Very drunk..
Why did they have to find him when they where sober like this? Why oh WHY did they have to play the good Samaritan? Meiko and Lily, both had one arm flung over their shoulders, and now carrying a nearly almost passed out Ron down the street.
"Oh boy. I never thought I'd see him like this. I think this is worse than the time at his party."
"You mean where he got drunk, and you where drunk, and you banged him?"
Wait to be blunt Meiko.
"Ah.. yeah. Anyway… lets just get him…. Wait… Meiko?"
"Yeah what is it?"
"He lives like, 10 miles from here."
"Oh f-"
The door opened and Miku looked up from the show she was watching, and her jaw nearly hit the floor, and her brother looked up from his book.
"What the heck?"
Which Iris twin said that? Meh, does it matter? Yes Iris. Miku came first, Mikuo came along later that same year. Same age, few months apart, siblings. SO yes, Iris Twins. But that's irrelevant to the situation.
"We found him at the bar." Meiko admitted.
"And, Meiko lives closer, and we're too cheap to call in a cab. It's… probably best he doesn't go home right now anyway."
"Why wouldn't he want to go home?" Miku asked as she got up and rushed over to help Meiko and Lily steady the young man.
"Oh.. Hi." He said with a dazed expression as he took notice of Miku.
"He was babbling some nonsense about no one being able to help him, and something about, a Demon stalking him from a mirror." Lily explained as they lead Ron over to the couch.
"I think I'm going to be sick…" Ron murmured.
"Oh he did not just say that." Meiko said.
But Ron was looking extremely pale and sweaty. He then started to gag, and covered his mouth.
"He did." Said Lily. And it would only be seconds before he couldn't contain it anymore. Fortunately, Mikuo acted quickly by grabbing the nearest rubbish barrel, or bucket rather, and slid it over for Ron to heave in. Which, he did. Lily held his long hair back while Miku rubbed his back, hoping to make him feel better. Though she knew it was probably doing little to help.
When he was finished, Mikuo winced as he took the trash bin away. But didn't complain.
"Well, we should get him upstairs, to the guest room." Miku suggested.
Lily and Meiko groaned.
"You mean we have to haul his ass Up Stairs?" Meiko wined. She wanted to go out and drink herself after this escapade.
"Yes, Yes you do. Don't worry, I'll make sure Kaito helps you. I'm going to call his friends, and let them know where he is, and he's safe. Now go. Once he's upstairs, you won't have to worry about him. I'll take care of him myself. Okay?" Miku stood straight and crossed her arms. The look on her face clearly stated that this would be the final word on the matter.
Meiko winced. When Miku was like this, there was No arguing with her. And She was supposed to be the grownup in charge? Ha! That was a laugh.
"Fine." Meiko said, as Lily groaned. Miku left the room to the kitchen, and Kaito came in shortly after to help the girls take Ron up the stairs.
Miku was on the phone when her brother returned from being out side, with a very empty waist bucket. (He cleaned it to while he was at it.)
"So what's going on?" he asked, only to have Miku hold up a finger, asking him to wait a moment.
"That's right. Yes, we'll be housing him here for the night. He's in no condition to travel right now. He's what? …. Yes I understand. Yes, we'll take good care of him don't worry. I'll call you tomorrow when he wakes up of course. Okay. You're welcome. Thank you, and I hope you have a good night Matsuda-san."
She hung up and then sat down and sighed.
"Ron is spending the night here. If he's going to be sick like this, traveling would only make him worse." She said, looking down at the table. Her brother took a seat next to her. Replace the bucket could wait a bit longer.
"He's going to feel like shit in the morning."
Miku nodded.
"But, he's not the type to get drunk like that. What could drive him to that?" she sounded genuinely worried. Then again, she knew him better than he did. He was teaching her how to play the Ehru. So she would have had plenty of chances to talk to him.
"Well, when he's ah, sober, you could try asking him about that stuff that Lily and Meiko said he was babbling about to them. It Might have something to do with what's bothering him."
"… Maybe."
Lily said he had been babbling about demons. Demons… could there really be such a thing?
Never the less, she sighed and stood.
"Come on, I'll need your help. He's got a nasty wound on his back according to Matsuda-san. We should probably take a look at it."
"A wound on his back?" Mikuo questioned, but didn't get much farther than that as Kaito walked by with yet another trash bin. A familiar rancid smell coming from it.
Yuck.
"He must have packed away more than he did the day we spiked everything at his birthday party…" they heard Lily mutter as she and Meiko seemed to have decided to head back out.
Miku sighed. This was going to be a long night.
"Get the medical kit."
"Right."
She said she would take care of him personally, and she did. Her brother was just too nice to let her do it on her own. Even Rin and Len helped out a bit. Kaito laid down in his room feeling sick himself the rest of the night. Miku guessed it was from dealing with the vomit. But, aside from tending the wound on his back, and changing the bandages, there wasn't much to do. He was out light a light anyway. So the Hatsune twins needed the Kagamines to help sit him up so they could properly wrap the wound anyway.
AN: So yeah, review if you like it. Shortest chapter yet I thinks. Don't worry, they get long again.
