Hello, Doctor
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Chapter 4
It was a few minutes after twelve when we finally arrived at Cloud's house. I got out of the car and opened the door for Kairi. I watched her climb out of the car and then dust herself off before moving towards the door.
I smiled at her and followed. I reached for the doorbell but paused when I heard Kairi ask if she could ring it. I shrugged and lifted her up to press the glowing, circular button on the right of the door.
When I put her down the door opened to reveal a smiling Zell and Riku.
"Hey, Kairi and Sora. How are you?" Riku asked.
"Hey, Zell!" Kairi said and moved to barrel into the house. I quickly grabbed her by the back of her dress. "Slow your roll. Kairi, Riku just asked us how we were. Don't you think it would be polite if we answered his question?" I asked.
Kairi blushed and looked up the Riku. "Hello Dr. Riku, me and daddy are happy to be here." Kairi said and started to enter the home again.
I stopped her for a second time. "I don't think it's very polite to enter someone's house before asking to come in." I said.
Kairi sighed exasperatedly. "Zell, can I please enter your house?" Kairi asked.
"Sure! We were watching TV, c'mon!" Zell said and I finally let her go play with her friend.
Riku chuckled as he watched the kids move to the living room. "She's one spunky kid." He said.
"Oh yeah, but that's exactly how I was when I was younger so…" I trailed off before speaking again. "This morning she insisted on wearing that dress. Sometimes it's hard to say no to her for the sake of not breaking her spirit." I said.
"She wanted to look nice for her play date today. And she looks great." Riku said with a smile. "She's a beautiful girl."
"Yeah she is… but those aren't my genes. Besides the eyes, everything that's on the outside is from momma." I said and moved over to the kitchen. It was an open kitchen area so I could still see Zell and Kairi giggling at the cartoon on the TV.
"It's funny that you say that. I look at her and it's like a mini-Sora in front of me. I mean, she is her father's daughter." Riku said with a smile.
I returned the smile and nodded. "She sure is… but she's perfected the art of being like her daddy, to the point where she can get whatever she wants. And she knows it too." I laughed.
"Well, I don't know about you Sora, but I am starving. What do you say we wrangle up the kids and get some grub?" Riku asked.
I smiled. "Sounds like a plan. Kairi and Zell, are you hungry?" I asked in an overly excited manner.
"Yeah!" They said together seeming to feed off of my enthusiasm.
"We let's get a move on! A play date isn't really a play date unless you go out to eat." I said and we moved to the front door.
"Let's take my car." Riku said and stepped outside. I followed behind him and that's when I noticed his car.
"Dude, can we trade cars?" I asked and scurried over to take a closer look. "How did you get the latest model of the Audi Q7 so soon?" I asked.
"It was a favor from the company director… his son was sick with a really rare disease and I was the only doctor that caught on to it. I cured him and when I said I was looking for a car he hooked me up." Riku said with a smile.
"And you said Cloud was a lucky bastard?" I said with suspicious look.
Riku laughed. "Yeah, that was a little hypocritical."
"Dr. Riku? Are we gonna get in the car?" Kairi asked.
Riku nodded. "Yeah sorry about that. I'll let you get in." Riku said and opened the car. I moved over and picked up Zell to place him into the car. I smiled at the smell of leather upholstery.
"I've always liked Audis. They're showy enough to be luxury cars but they are still efficient and hard working. And the ride is really smooth." I said as I got into the passenger seat.
"Yeah, that's basically the same reason I like this car. Seatbelts guys." Riku said before starting the car.
I directed Riku to the family restaurant and when we pulled into the parking lot, I turned back to the kids and smiled. "It's food time!" I said.
"Can Zell and I order from the grown-ups menu?" Kairi asked.
"I don't know Kairi-cat… there's a lot of food. You might be able to eat it all if you share." I said.
"Zell and I can share! Can't we Zell? Please!" Kairi turned to her friend and asked.
Zell shrugged. "Okay."
"Yay! Let's go!" Kairi exclaimed and walked over to Riku after I pulled her out of the car.
I helped Zell get out of the car as well. "You don't have to share with her if you don't want to Zell. Kairi doesn't hold grudges." I said.
"No, I want to. I like it when Kairi smiles." Zell said.
I ruffled Zell's hair and smiled. "Me to, buddy. I think you and I are just a couple of Kairi enthusiasts." I said and we entered the restaurant.
The restaurant wasn't crowded so we were seated immediately. We ordered our drinks and I moved to help Zell and Kairi pick an order.
"Do you guys want a burger? Personally I think something like pasta would be easier to share." I said and pointed to that area of the menu.
"Kairi let's get this one!" Zell said and pointed to the ravioli.
"That looks yummy." Kairi said when she looked at the picture on the menu.
I smiled. "That was easier than I thought it would be." I said and moved back to my seat.
"They are so adorable. They're like a mini-married couple." Riku said with a chuckle.
I laughed. "I was tempted at one point to start calling Cloud my brother-in-law. Those two are basically attached at the hip."
"You don't really find many friendships like that as adults." Riku said.
"Yeah… it's a shame." I said and took a sip of my coke.
"Can I ask a question?" Riku asked.
"Sure, shoot." I said and looked at him.
"I don't mean this in a rude way but… How exactly can you take care of Kairi so well? I saw that you worked at the convenience store but does that really cover everything?" Riku asked.
I wasn't really offended by the question… quite frankly it was a question a lot of people probably wonder about when they meet Kairi and I. "Well, I work on the weekend too… except for Sunday. I work overtime a lot and I have to be really careful about my expenses. And then I have a lot of emotional support from my friends, family, and even my employers. But everything I ever do is for Kairi and that makes it worth while." I smiled at him and played with the straw in my drink.
"What do you do on Saturdays?" Riku asked.
I blushed. I actually am really embarrassed about my Saturday job at Chuck E. Cheese. I mean, who would be proud of dressing up as a giant rat-creature and chase after children all day regardless of the fact that half of the kids, think you're scary as hell. "I work at Chuck E. Cheese…" I trailed.
"Doing what?" Riku asked a smile on his face seemed to grow as if he knew that my next answer would be embarrassing.
I blushed redder. "Well… I'm really good at impersonating voices and stuff…" I mumbled.
"Oh really?" he asked seemingly curious.
"Yeah, and because of that I get to wear the costumes and talk to the kids in different voices." I said softly and looked away from him.
Riku laughed. "So you get to scare the living crap out of kids every Saturday… sounds fun."
I scoffed. "You know, that job takes real skill!" I said and took his drink from him.
"Excuse me, give me my drink back." Riku said.
"No. Since your going to bully me like a kid Kairi's age. I will treat you like a kid Kairi's age. You are officially in time out and you do not get your drink until the food comes." I said.
"Okay, I'm sorry… I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. In fact, I would love to hear these great impersonations." Riku said.
"No, you have to repent." I said.
"Sora… give me my drink." Riku said in a serious voice.
"You'll get your drink back when the food comes." I said.
"Sora." He said again.
"I'm not giving it back." I said and jumped when I suddenly felt Riku reach over me to get his drink.
I grabbed it before he could reach it and I pulled it away from him.
"Sora! Give it!" Riku growled.
"Nope. You won't get it until later." I said and almost fell from my chair trying to keep the drink out of Riku's hands. I was about to drink it all so that Riku wouldn't get it back but I paused when I heard the kids laughing.
"Dr. Riku and Daddy are fighting like little kids! Isn't it funny, Zell?" Kairi giggled out.
"Yeah, I've never seen Riku act so silly before!" Zell said.
I cleared my throat and handed Riku's drink back to him. "Sorry…" I said quietly.
"Sorry…" he replied in the same manner and we sat quietly until our food came.
After about a minute into eating, I turned to see Riku laughing over his food.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Y-yeah, It's just… I can't believe I really fought with you over a drink. That was probably the most ridiculous thing I have ever done since I was twelve." Riku said through his laughter.
"I guess it is kind of funny… I mean, my kid had to knock some sense into me." I laughed.
Our laughs turned into to small chuckles before fading. I took a bite of my food before finally remembering something.
"By the way, how is your patient? You know, the one you told me about at the convenience store, the one who was on the new chemo?" I asked.
"Oh… well, she's definitely doing well on the chemo, better than we expected. There was a really high risk that she could die, but she pulled through. We check tomorrow to see if her tumors have cleared or receded." Riku answered.
"That's good. It's funny that I've been worrying about a little girl that I don't even know. But I'm really happy things are going well. I was rooting for her." I said and continued to eat.
"You really are the sweetest person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting." Riku said.
I smiled. "Thanks man, but there's no need to get all mushy on me!"
It was about thirty or forty minutes later that we were all finished eating. I leaned back in my chair and sighed happily. My food had really hit the spot and there was nothing better than the feeling of satisfaction you get when you eat with friends and family.
"Excuse me, we'll have the check." Riku called to the waiter.
The waiter returned a minute later and I took the check from him. I pulled out a fifty dollar bill and was about to stick it in the wallet when I noticed two twenties were already in there.
"Ummm? It's okay… I got this." I said and handed Riku his money back.
"Are you kidding me? My money was in there first, it's on me." Riku said and grabbed the check to put him money back in it.
"I invited you to this so I'm going to pay for the food, got it?" I said in a firm tone.
"Because you were nice enough to invite me, I feel like I should pay for the food. It's no biggie, Sora. I'm a doctor that lives alone, I don't have any other reason to spend my money… and believe me I make enough money, so don't worry about it." Riku said and closed the check wallet.
With a growl, I snatched the wallet back and took out his money. I placed the bills on the table and put my fifty in the wallet. "I'm perfectly capable of paying for the food, Riku. So let me!" I said.
"I'm not saying that you aren't capable of paying, Sora. I just…" Riku snatched the wallet back, "want to pay to show my gratitude." Riku said.
"Give me the darn check!" I yelled.
"Sora calm down, look." Riku handed a twenty to Kairi and a twenty to Zell. They took it happily.
"I'm rich!" Zell said.
"Me too!" Kairi giggled.
"Can you two please pay for the food?" Riku said.
"Sure!" The kids said together and slid their twenties into the check wallet.
"See, now the kids paid for it… but if you'd like to fork in a tip that would be great." Riku said with a smile.
I grumbled but put my fifty back in my wallet and pulled out a ten. I placed it on the table. "You're really, really lucky I thought that was cute." I said.
Riku laughed. "I figured… that's why I did it. But think of it as a commemoration of our friendship."
"Yeah, yeah." I said and waved him off.
"Now I'm poor." Kairi said with a sigh.
"It's okay Kairi, we'll be poor together!" Zell said.
"Who cares about being poor? Let's go to the playground!" I said.
"Yeah!" They yelled simultaneously forgetting about the fact that the money they were given was quickly expended.
-Hello, Doctor-
We all got out of the car when we arrived at the playground. Most of the other kids left and so there were maybe two or three other kids still there. I watched Zell and Kairi run over to the play structure.
Riku and I moved over to the bench and sat. I was about to start up a conversation when I noticed something.
"Kairi! Tie your shoe please!" I called from my seat.
"Okay." Kairi yelled back and continued to play.
"So, I saw your nurse Naminé at the convenience store. Turns out she was buying booze for her bachelorette party… I can't believe she's getting married… no actually I can because she's so pretty but it took me by surprise." I said.
"Oh yeah, it took me by surprise to. My brother walks up to me after a surgery and springs it on me. I didn't even know they were dating…" Riku said.
"She's getting married to your brother?" I asked.
"Yeah, she seems to like the quiet and dedicated type… because that's my brother in a nutshell. A lot of girls seem to like that type lately." Riku said.
"You really think so?" I asked.
"Yeah, I hear it a lot from girls because I'm gay. They seem to think that I'm interested in the types of dudes they're interested in…" Riku said.
I blushed. "Wait… you're gay?" I asked incredulously.
"Yeah, is that a problem?" he asked.
"W-well… no but I've never met a gay person and known that they're gay. It's weird…" I said and scratched the back of my head.
"That's understandable I guess." Riku said.
"Aren't you uncomfortable about telling people? I mean, aren't you nervous about telling the wrong person?" I asked.
"Well, I'm one hundred percent comfortable with who I am… and it's really not any different from telling someone you like women." Riku said.
My eyes widened. "Oh shit… that was really dickish of me. I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that… I just feel like if I was in your position I wouldn't want to tell anyone… and not because being gay is wrong… just because you never know what a person will do when you tell them." I said.
Personally, I really didn't think that being gay was normal or right… but I couldn't hate someone for loving a person, be it male or female. And to be honest… I think about Kairi and I know she would never shun someone because they were different. Kairi would learn to understand that person.
And Kairi was someone I looked up to everyday. She could bring happiness to anyone.
"Well it really depends on how you look at it you know… it's something you have to accept and it's only after that that you feel the need to tell others. Homosexuals that don't tell others about their sexuality are either unsure about it, or prefer privacy." Riku said.
I was about to speak again when I caught Kairi going down the slide, shoe still untied. "Kairi please tie your shoe, this is the second time I'm telling you." I said.
"I will!" Kairi said and ignored me again.
I sighed and decided to turn back to Riku. "I'm really sorry if I'm coming off as rude… I just want to try and understand you more. You know, because we're friends." I said.
"I get it, you're curious and it's a nice gesture I guess. Not many people would try and understand. But there's really not too much to understand. There are a few differences, but the outline of it all is basically like a heterosexual couple." Riku said.
"Really?" I asked.
"Well, it depends on the person. If I dated a gay man who had a lot of feminine qualities, I'll probably have the same experiences as I would if I were dating a girl. And even the same problems too. But if I dated a regular dude who just happens to be gay… I won't have any of those problems or experiences at all. In fact, I might have a whole new set of problems. Because usually those types of relationships turn out to be a little bumpy… they're a lot like a sex friendships. But like any type of relationship, homo or hetero, the five C's are needed for it to work." Riku said.
"The five C's?" I asked.
"Yeah… They are Communication, Company, Comfort, Compromise, and Confidence. I find that without these relationships go flat. Believe me, I know… I've talked with enough girls to know it." Riku said.
"That's interesti-KAIRI!" I yelled and ran towards the play structure the second I saw her falling.
I wasn't quick enough to catch her before she hit the ground. My heart stopped for fear that she was really hurt. I moved up to her as she began to cry.
As much as I hated yelling at her… I had to do it. "Kairi, I told you TWICE to tie your shoes so that something like this wouldn't happen. The next time I tell you to do something, you DO IT! Do you understand me Kairi Jane Smith?" I asserted firmly.
Kairi nodded and wiped at her eyes.
"Now let me get a look at you to see the damage. Can you tell me what hurts?" I asked.
"My elbows and my…" Kairi paused as she cried and I gave her a confused look.
"What's the matter baby?" I asked.
Kairi motioned for me to come closer and I leaned in. I almost smiled when she whispered that her bottom was in pain.
"I have first aid. How bad is she?" Riku asked and kneeled down next to me.
"Is Kairi gonna be okay?" Zell asked
"Yeah, she's gonna be fine. She says that her elbow and her-"
"DON'T TELL HIM!" Kairi yelled as she cried.
"You don't have to tell me, I understand." Riku said and held out his hand. "Can you stand Kairi?" he asked.
Kairi nodded and Riku pulled her on her feet. "Well, that clears a broken tail bone." Riku felt around Kairi's arms and I was relieved when he told me that her arms were fine.
"Wow Kai, you fell from that high and you have no broken bones? I know if I fell from there I'd probably break a hip." I said.
Kairi and Zell laughed.
"Why is that funny?" I asked genuinely curious as to why my own daughter would laugh at that.
"Well, if you're twenty-one and you're saying you'll break a hip… what will happen to a twenty-six year old like myself?" Riku asked.
"Well, you're the doctor. You tell me." I said with a smile.
Riku laughed before turning to Kairi and Zell.
"Did your father teach you how to properly put on a band-aid?" Riku asked Zell.
Zell thought for a second and shook his head… "He taught me how to give stitches,…" he said.
Riku laughed. "Alright, I was going to get him for not teaching you this but I guess he wins again. That man is always one upping me."
"But I want to learn about the band-aid." Zell said.
"Okay, I'll demonstrate and then you follow, okay" Riku said.
I watched carefully as Riku showed Zell how to apply the disinfectant and put on the band-aid. Kairi seemed to like the attention.
"And finally, Zell you have to kiss your patient better." Riku said.
"NAH ANH!" Zell denied with a big shake of the head.
"Uh huh, yes you do. Look Kairi is still sad, aren't you Kairi?" Riku asked.
"Zell doesn't have to kiss me better if he doesn't want to." Kairi said and stood up. "Daddy will kiss me better." Kairi was about to walk over to me when Zell took her arm and kissed her on the cheek.
"D'awwwww! Isn't that so cute!" Riku said to me.
I smiled and nodded. It was a very heartwarming thing to see. They really were how Riku put it, a mini-married couple.
"Are you all better, Kairi? You still want to go play?" I asked.
"Yeah… but I want to tie my shoe first." Kairi said and moved to tie her shoe.
I put a hand on her head. "Good girl."
The rest of the day was accident free and I was a little sad when the day finally ended. We all said our goodbyes at Cloud's house. And Kairi and I made our way home.
"You know daddy, I think we should do this again… with Dr. Riku. Even though you two fought a lot at the restaurant… you looked like you were really having fun." Kairi said with a yawn as I laid her in her bed to sleep.
What she had said took me aback a little but I brushed it off. "Maybe next time, we can have Cloud come too." I said.
"Yeah…"Kairi said before she drifted off.
I turned off her lights and closed the door quietly.
A/N: And thus ends our play date… but don't worry there is still more to come! :D
I'm shooting for 20 guys, we can do this! REVIEW!