Fall
Chapter Seven: Family and Favors
Over thirty minutes had passed when Yokozawa at last headed back from his "smoke break." Hearing voices coming from inside Takano's room, he slowed as he neared the open door. He stopped just outside and peered in.
A sharp dressed woman stood at one side of Takano's bed. Takano's mother, Yokozawa supposed. She was in the midst of a heated conversation with a man standing on the other side of the bed; a doctor by the looks of his medical garb.
Darting a glance at Takano, Yokozawa's brow furrowed. His classmate's eyes were tightly closed, lips pressed into a hard line, and he was even paler than when he'd left him. Since his approach hadn't been noted, Yokozawa drew back, rather than intrude. He decided he'd just walk around the hospital for a bit longer. Just as he turned to go, the harsh tone in the lady Takano's voice stopped him.
"I'll ask you again, what are you doing here, Saga! This doesn't concern you!"
Yokozawa was stunned to hear the name Saga, but when the doctor answered, there was no doubt that it was the same man he'd spoken to on the phone that morning.
"Eighteen years I was led to believe it concerned me. You think that's so easy to simply step away from? And, need I remind you, I work at this hospital."
"Hah!" Takano's mother barked out a sharp laugh. "Right. If you're so concerned still and since this is your hospital, why weren't you here earlier?"
"I checked with Masamune's doctor right after I got the call about him." Saga growled, "I was told he was stabilizing and I had a full schedule of surgeries today. Even so, I came as soon as I could. Which is more than I can say for you. It's been what? Over twelve hours since you likely received the call and you just arrived!"
Though he knew he was eavesdropping now, Yokozawa couldn't bring himself to step away. He'd been curious himself as to why Takano's mother hadn't arrived earlier.
"I had to take the train to get here, you idiot! You know that I'm not in the city now. And I had appointments with clients that I couldn't reschedule!"
"Ah, I remember all those appointments, your ever important clients… Such a refined way to say whoring around! Maybe if you stayed home and kept your legs closed, your son wouldn't be running so wild!"
"You're one to talk!" Takano's mother snorted loudly in disgust, "Sleeping with over half your nursing staff… Don't pretend otherwise! If you had been any kind of husband or father at all…"
Before she could finish, Saga jumped in and cut her off, the rage in his voice barely contained, "I worked like a dog to establish my practice, making it so you could finish your law degree and to provide for you and a child who wasn't even my own!..."
"Hah! That's a laugh… You fought me every step of my schooling… Demanded I give you a child when your seed was worthless!"
"Well, given the present state of your son, I am glad that he's not mine!"
If this is how they conduct themselves, no wonder Takano was so upset I 'd contacted them.
Yokozawa, now deeply regretted the calls he'd made, appalled by all that he'd heard. He couldn't believe that someone's parents, or former parent, in the case of Saga, would say such things in front of their child, especially when Takano was obviously in such a compromised state.
This situation is my fault.
Yokozawa knew that he needed to jump in before any more damage was done. Pulling out his phone, he ambled into the room, pretending to be reading a text.
"Eh, Takano, what was it you wanted to drink again? I got a call on my way to the vending machines and forgot." He looked up and hoped that his limited acting abilities were enough to make him seem surprised to suddenly see others in Takano's room.
"Ah, please excuse me. I hope that I'm not interrupting anything." Yokozawa put his phone back in his pocket and offered an apologetic bow to the two adults. Although, given their recent behavior, it angered him to have to appear so deferential.
Thankfully his intrusion had the desired effect, and both the lady Takano and Saga immediately fell quiet. Saga regained his composure almost immediately and was the first to speak again.
"Now that I see your mother has arrived, Masamune, I need to get back to my rounds."
Yokozawa chanced a glance at Takano and saw his eyes had opened again, but there was no light in them. His face held no emotion either as he bowed his chin in response.
Takano's voice was a flat as his expression. "Thank you for checking on me, Saga-sensei. I apologize for any inconvenience I caused you. It won't happen again."
Having heard Takano's former father earlier, Yokozawa knew that there were many layers of meaning held in these simple words.
Saga seemed aware of this too, as this made his already serious face even more solemn. After a moment's pause he gave a light grunt and nodded himself. His eyes darted over briefly to Yokozawa, but he offered no other acknowledgement as he turned and strode out of the room.
This brief interaction gave Takano's mother enough time to don a more appropriate face. When Yokozawa met her gaze again following Saga's departure, she stepped up with a smile that didn't quite fit her features.
"You must be Yokozawa-kun." She dipped at the waist. "Thank you for seeing after my son and for calling me."
Yokozawa's eyes darted to Takano only long enough to see a trace of disgust on his classmate's otherwise stony face.
Is that look for her or for me?
He returned the bow and was about to respond when Takano's hoarse voice suddenly sounded. "I wanted a cherry-vanilla soda. You wouldn't think that would be hard to remember."
"Masamune!" His mother's voice lost its charm in an instant as she snapped at him for his rudeness.
"Please, Takano-san…" Yokozawa kept the growl from his tone, though it wasn't easy. "It's no problem. I did forget. And, I imagine that you might want to spend some time with your son without an outsider present."
Both Takanos seemed surprised by these words, but Yokozawa turned around before either could respond and stepped back out into the hall. He didn't immediately head off to the vending machines for Takano's "forgotten" drink, however. Instead, he lingered another moment near the door.
"You should be grateful, Masamune, not ordering your friend around like that!" Takano-san chided. "If it wasn't for him, I'd have had to come into Tokyo to visit you in the morgue instead of the hospital."
Takano's voice was so low, Yokozawa could barely make out the words, but when they registered at last his heart stuttered.
"Perhaps that would have been better. Then you wouldn't have to spend so much of your time worrying about me."
Takano-san's whisper was much harsher than her son's had been."If it wasn't for the DNA test, Masamune, I might still think you were Saga's child. You certainly inherited his cruelty."
Her tone became only slightly milder, "I don't know what's going on with you, but I do worry about you, Son. You need to stop this poor and destructive behavior. If you don't, I'll pull you from "M" and you'll go to work with my husband; where he can keep an eye on you."
The idea of Takano leaving the University filled Yokozawa with strange dread. He strained his ears to catch his classmate's response to this, but all he heard was silence.
"You think about that for a few minutes, Masamune."
Hearing the click heels on the tile floor, Yokozawa pulled away from the door and made some long hurried strides down the hall. He darted around the corner to where the row of vending machines stood.
After staring at them rather stupidly for a few moments, with a sigh, he reached into his pocket and withdrew his wallet, pulling out the last couple bills he had. He fed these into a machine and pressed the button for a cherry-vanilla soda.
"Yokozawa-kun."
Gray eyes widened in surprise, hearing Takano-san call out as she approached him.
"Please allow me to apologize for my son's rudeness."
"He's not feeling well, Takano-san; so his manner is understandable." Yokozawa said this, though what he really felt, was that rather than apologizing to him for Takano, she should instead be apologizing to her son for her own harsh words.
Uncomfortable with the careful way Takano-san was scrutinizing him, Yokozawa turned away to retrieve the soda from the vending machine.
"You're a good friend to my son, Yokozawa-kun. Thank you for looking out for him."
Heat filled Yokozawa's cheeks at Takano-san's words. I barely know him.
"I know he can be troublesome." Takano's mother reached into her purse and withdrew an envelope. "It would relieve me greatly to know that someone in Tokyo was looking out for him. She held her hand out.
Confused, Yokozawa took the envelope. His eyes widened, however, when he peeked into it and saw it was stuffed with notes. At least twice the monthly allowance he received from his parents' estate.
"What's this?"
When he suddenly realized the lady's intentions, his voice became dangerously gruff.
"No."
Despite his strained circumstances there was no way he was going to be bribed to care for Takano. Even if he wanted to, which he did not, he realized he couldn't. His heart had already made its decision.
Takano-san's eyes widened when he thrust the money back at her. "But…"
Yokozawa cut her off. "I will do my best to look out for Masamune, Takano-san." It was the first time he had ever used Takano's first name and though his stomach twisted at the false intimacy, it felt perfect on his tongue. "But I don't need this. I won't accept it."
His tone made it clear that there was absolutely no room for further discussion on the matter. For the first time since he'd met her, Takano-san's mask cracked and her expression was earnest. Her gaze held a mixture of admiration and curiosity as she took the envelope back and tucked it into her bag once more.
She nodded slowly. "As I said before, Yokozawa-kun, you're a good friend. Takano is fortunate to have found you."
The unexpected wistfulness in her words made Yokozawa drop his eyes. Suddenly fascinated by the label of the soda bottle, he twisted the plastic nervously.
"May I get you something to drink too, Takano-san? For when you go back to his room to sit with him?"
It was only after he'd made the offer that Yokozawa realized he'd used the last of his cash to procure Takano's soda. So he was relieved when Takano-san declined. At least at first.
"Thank you, Yokozawa-kun, that's very kind of you, but I'm only going to go back long enough to say goodbye. I need to get back to my office."
"Anyways, I doubt Masamune would appreciate me hovering." She stepped back and beckoned for him to follow. "He'll likely be more comfortable with you sitting with him."
Yokozawa frowned at this. I've been sitting with him for hours already and you just got here.
He could hardly believe that Takano-san was going to leave her son, who had just almost died, after spending less than an hour with him. An hour, most of which, had been spent fighting with her ex-husband. He shook his head at the coldness of this, but kept his tongue and followed her anyways.
It was painful watching Takano-san say goodbye and to witness Takano's curt responses. Feeling wrung out, Yokozawa sank back down into the chair he'd previously occupied as soon as she left, glad that Takano-san was gone. Takano seemed to relax a bit more too now. After spending several silent minutes resting quietly with his eyes fixed on the ceiling, he at last shifted his gaze over.
"You fucked up by calling them you know…"
"I know," Yokozawa growled. "But you could cut me some slack… I thought you were dying."
A broken smile twisted Takano's mouth. Once again he turned his eyes up to the ceiling. "There are fates worse than death," he said softly, "Being one of my parents, for example."
The silence resumed until he spoke again.
"How much did she offer you?" Takano didn't look back over at Yokozawa, but kept his gaze fixed above him. There was no heat in his voice, just a quiet curiosity.
Despite the impulse to lie and pretend ignorance, Yokozawa answered honestly. "I didn't count it." He waited a moment before adding, "I didn't take it either, if that's what you're wondering."
At these words, Takano's dark head whipped around quick enough to cause him to groan. "That was stupid of you…" He rubbed his hand against his forehead to soothe the ache there. "She has more money than she knows what to do with and I'm sure you could have used it."
"I'm not going to be paid to be your friend!" Yokozawa snapped, cut far more deeply by Takano's words than he'd ever admit.
Rolling carefully over onto his side, Takano studied Yokozawa with an intensity not all that unlike his mother had earlier. "Then what are you getting out of it?"
Yokozawa's brow creased at the question and he was about to answer sharply until he realized Takano was serious.
Does he really think that he's so unworthy? Rather than bark back again, he snorted instead. "So far… aggravation… mostly."
For the first time since he'd been awake, Takano's expression lightened. "Like that do you? Aggravation?"
Yokozawa wearily pushed himself up out of his chair once more and moved over to hand Takano the bottle of soda, now slightly warm. "It's an acquired taste, I suppose."
Takano took the drink, opened it and downed a gulp with a grimace before setting it on the bedside table.
"Never really been a fan of cherry," he mumbled as he watched Yokozawa reach into his pockets, once his hands were free, to pull out both a phone and a wallet.
"Why the hell did you ask for it then?" Yokozawa growled. "If you're going to make up a flavor, in the future I recommend that you pick one you at least like… Here, these are yours."
His heart picked up when Takano reached for his things and their fingers touched. It beat even faster when, rather than fall away; these same fingers lightly clasped his own.
Amber eyes dropped down and dark bangs fell forward obscuring much of Takano's face. "Thank you, Yokozawa," he said softly.
Just as it had been with Saga, Yokozawa understood that there was depth to these words that sat below their surface.
Takano's hand was so hot against his own and the feel of it made everything in Yokozawa's core molten. Not trusting his voice, overwhelmed by the strangeness of all he felt, he merely hummed his assent.
He pulled away slowly at last, though he could have happily stood there holding Takano's hand indefinitely. "I have to go. There's some things I need to take care of for school and it seems you're in good hands here. I doubt any of the nurses will leave you unattended for long."
Takano nodded without looking up. His fingers traced over the surface of his phone and the worn edge of his wallet.
"Of course. I have taken a lot of your time already."
I would freely give it to you again, and more, if your needed it. Rather than say this, Yokozawa gave a light grunt in response.
After another second's pause, Takano lifted his head. "Did you happen to bring my keys too, by chance, Yokozawa?"
"Ah… No." Yokozawa suddenly felt sheepish. "They're still at my apartment. I didn't think to bring them." He stopped himself. "But you don't need them tonight; they've already said they're keeping you over at least one more day."
"I know, it's just…" Now it was Takano's turn to look uneasy. "Would you be willing to do something for me?"
Yokozawa waited unsure of what to expect.
Takano cleared his throat. "Would you please check on Sorata for me… My cat." His stoic facade fell away and his expression was clearly pained. "I haven't been the best at looking after him lately."
Yokozawa felt a twist in his gut at these words, knowing how little Takano had been home, recalling suddenly how quiet the apartment next door had been, trying to remember how many days it had passed since the last muffled mew had been heard through the thin walls.
"Of course. I'll check as soon as I get back."
Face flooding with relief, Takano rolled onto his back again and shuffled down into the sheets. "Good. that will make us even."
"Even?"
"Yeah, that's how you can make it up to me for calling my parents."
Yokozawa stared at Takano, incredulous. "After everything I…
"You're a jackass!"
Takano closed his eyes, exhausted. "I prefer aggravating."
Yokozawa didn't try to quell the half smile that quirked his mouth at Takano's response, not since Takano's eyelids had closed. He stood a moment watching as Takano's breathing evened out and his features stilled and relaxed.
While he could have stared at the beauty of Takano's peaceful, sleeping face for hours, Yokozawa was now gripped with a sense of urgency to go find out how Sorata was doing. Still, he couldn't help but reach out and brush his fingertips over Takano's as he pulled phone and wallet away from a loose hand and tucked them into the bedside table's drawer.
Pulling on his coat at last, Yokozawa headed out of the quiet room trying to gather his energies. He had a feeling that his long day of rescues wasn't over yet.
Thanks so much guys for the comments and all the favorites and follows. I was a little unsure of how to navigate the drama. Hope I did okay. Let me know; your thoughts mean a lot to me.
Next we'll see how little Sora-chan's been handling Takano's breakdown.
Cheers!
