Chapter 9: Pain and Disease
Suoh was still standing there with a fan that he just dropped by his feet, when Owaru and the hospital's emergency crew came through the door. He was still stunned on his feet, while all the medics started to examine Nokoru's body. Just before his eyes, he saw they gave him CPR in the same way he did before.. But he made no movement... He felt all his world suddenly sunk into the sea of darkness, that made him feel, see, and hear nothing at all. When he began to get his consciousness back, he realized he was already in the hospital. He recognized the dead white color, the smell of medicine, and... the silence. He was not sure it was heaven or hell.. But that didn't concern him too much... he felt all his life had gone, gone with the dropped fan..
/Why I should follow his order and take that damned fan?/
Suoh blamed himself for Nokoru's unconsciousness. In his mind, if only he stayed beside him, Nokoru wouldn't sleep into oblivion. Never before he was so scared. He was never afraid of his death... But Nokoru's death?
No.
Nokoru had to survive. No matter how.
/I still had something to say to him../
Owaru's pat on his back swiftly put him in his world again.. Suoh rose his head and met the two blue-eyes in front of him... they were exactly the same with his Nokoru's eyes.. Sad and lonely.
'How are you?' Owaru gently asked him.
He didn't answer him at once. 'How is he?' He replied the question.
Owaru shook his head, he didn't know the answer.. and he wished nobody would ask him that question. 'I don't know either.. They are still trying to save him in there.'
Both of the men looked at the white door in front of them. The red sign on its top was still lighting, as a sign that there was still an operation being executed.
'I. I'm sorry..' Suoh bowed down to Owaru. 'I cannot protect him.'
'STOP IT!'
Suoh was startled.
'Stop apologizing to me.. If someone had to be blamed, than the blame was on me.' Owaru looked sharply to the blue-hared man. 'You are not perfect, Takamura. Don't try to be.'
Suoh felt there was a big meaning in those words. Owaru turned his sight from him, and paid his full attention to the door. Somehow he hoped it would be opened soon, how he hated to wait... If it would be good news, he would never mind to wait even for centuries... But if it turned out to be bad news, let it be.. He just didn't want to wait desperately..
Today was Nokoru's birthday. He was very excited since early in the morning. Imonoyama Owaru was in Australia by that time, taking his college in Australian International Centre for Early Childhood. As soon as he was graduated from his high school, he took his lessons there because it was his wish to be a teacher, and he loved teaching little children. He believed it was his path of life.. Something he would enjoy working in.. he wanted to be a teacher. It was hard at the first time, he had to separate with his family, especially with little Nokoru. He just adored children.. And to him, Nokoru was his perfect angel. it always was. he carried his photograph in his wallet everywhere he would go.. He never missed saying Nokoru's name in his prayers every night... And today was his birthday. there was no way he was going to miss it. He hardly could wait for the day to come even since a month ago. Unfortunately, before he returned to Japan, he had to have an examination first... That's why he was one-day late for Nokoru's birthday. But that wouldn't a matter.. Nokoru would forgive him.. He was an angel after all...
Owaru entered his room, and rapidly packed his things in his luggage to be taken to the airport. He had booked the ticket, and he had called Douku to pick him up the next day. He didn't forget to ask him to wish a happy birthday to his dear brother as well. Finished checking all the things in his luggage, Owaru reached for his drawer. It was a mess inside it, but he seemed to let it be. He didn't like to tidy up his things.. He might be the most talented teacher among his colleagues, and the brightest student ever in the class as his tutors told him... But he was not perfect. He knew it... After seconds, his hand searching, he found it. A little black box with a lock. Gently he unlocked the box, and opened the lit.. It was a key chain.. It was a star, made of bronze, and it was shining as ever... He smiled to it.. He could almost see Nokoru who would smile widely when he opened it. All these times, when he called him, Nokoru always told him how he wanted to see what the stars looked like over there.. Across the sea...
/'Hello? Nokoru-san?'/
/'Yes, speaking. Who is this?/
/It's me. Owaru-san.'/
/Owaru-san! I miss you a lot!'/
/'Silly! I've just gone for two days. and you've already missed me?/
/'Yes. of course..'/ Owaru could feel Nokoru's sadness by that time, even though he was not looking at him directly.
/'How are you?/
/'I'm. fine. It was just so lonely here../
/'I'm sorry I had to leave you.. /
/'No. you have to.. You have to chase after your dream.'/ Sometimes Owaru was amazed to his brother's matureness in such a young age.
/'You know what.. You can see me every night.'/
/'Really? How?'/
/'Look at the stars..'/
/'Stars?'/
/'Yes. If you look at them, you'll be near to me.'/
/'How?'/
/'Because we are sleeping under the same star.. Just remember that. then you won't feel alone anymore.'/
That was his last conversation in phone with Nokoru. How he missed the laugh he heard after the conversation. And soon he would hear his voice and laughter again. He wanted to hug him this time, and never let him go for hours. He closed the lit, and put the box inside the pocket on his luggage. He went to sleep that night, believing he would have the sweetest dream he had ever had. But the next day... Nobody picked him up in the Tokyo Airport. He waited for a long time, trying to call Douku's hand phone. but nobody picked it up. The limousine that had to pick him up, came an hour later, but it didn't take him to his house.. It took him to a hospital... He was confused. but he didn't ask any question. He just followed the driver who led him into a large white room. Over there, he dropped the gift that he had been holding on since he got off the airplane.
Shocked..
He forgot everything then.. He rapidly ran... ran to see the unmoving body on the bed... He saw a similar face to his, but it was so pale. and he closed his eyes... forever... Owaru didn't say anything. He didn't cry, as nobody cried that day.. He forgot to wish Nokoru's birthday... He still remembered his father's word on the day they buried Douku's body...
/'For now on, you will be responsible on Imonoyama's family.. You will be the eldest son of the Imonoyama, and you have to carry the family on your shoulders.'/
Imonoyama.. It was not a bless.. It was painful... And the name was.. A curse... A Disease..
To be continued.
