Nothing (disclaimers or how ff.n keeps messing with my italics) has changed since the first time I put it at the top.
Warnings for this chapter:
None.
A note: I tried to find information on what happens in a situation where only one out of two (or more) children are being abused, but came up empty handed. Most cases that are available to the public are situations where only one child or all children were involved. The only references I had were "A Child Called 'It'" and "The Lost Boy", where only the abused boy was removed from his home. Thus, I left it kind of open with Shun's situation (no final decision yet).
As for the part about finding out who donated the blood…I came back with mixed information on that, so I just went with a version that was more for the story.
Chapter 14: You're Welcome
When Naoe, Ren, and Motoki returned to the hospital, they were shocked to learn of what had happened not even an hour before. Takashi Abe had been arrested on the charge of attempted murder and possible child abuse even before they had returned. Misae Abe, meanwhile, was being questioned by a psychologist team. Shun would be turned over to the family of one of his good friends for the time being, but for now, was also with a counselor to address some of the issues that came up during Shuugo's report of the incident and what the tape had revealed.
Even Naoe had been shocked and worried when she heard about it, and she had a difficult time keeping both Ren and Motoki from rushing to Takaya's room.
So, when they finally were able to get there, they were slightly surprised at the peaceful scene.
Takaya was asleep, the IV once again hooked up to his arm, and actually looked more peaceful than Motoki had ever seen him before.
Shuugo sat at the other end of the bed and leaned against the footboard with a pillow in between so it wouldn't be uncomfortable. He appeared to be lightly dozing, but was still woken up by the door opening. Apparently, he had been keeping watch over Takaya after the stressful incident.
At the gesture for silence, the three that entered the room nodded, and quietly went over.
Motoki pulled up a stool on one side, while Ren and Naoe took the other after putting some of the books they had brought for Takaya down on the nightstand.
Of course, Naoe walked over to Shuugo after placing her stool so it would be next to Ren's and inspected the red mark on Shuugo's neck. "Are you alright?"
Shuugo nodded. "Yea."
Ren's eyes were wide as he stared. "But…your…neck…"
Shuugo waved it off. "Barely even bothers me." That was a bit of a lie, but it certainly wasn't too bad or life threatening. "They gave me something for the pain."
Motoki shook his head in amazement. "And here I thought that I would be the only one dumb enough to try some'n like that…"
Shuugo flushed a bit. "W-well…when I heard what they were saying, I couldn't very well just leave him alone."
Motoki grinned. "Glad ya didn't." He looked down at his sleeping friend. Taka looks really pale. I heard the doctors say it was because he was running around after losing so much blood.
Naoe, convinced that Shuugo was fine, finally took a seat. Like Motoki, she sat closer to the head of the bed. She wanted to reach out and touch Takaya, but didn't know if she quite was in the position yet to do so. After what happened in the hospital earlier, she would be very busy the next couple of days.
Takaya was scheduled to be in the hospital at least a week so they could monitor his progress and mental state, though they might hold him longer than that since his was a special case.
While she was thinking, the boys were talking.
"Was it…scary?" Ren was asking Shuugo.
"Naw." Shuugo shook his head. It was freaking terrifying. "Plus, I really didn't do much. Just barged in and started to mouth off to some psycho-adults. I went to help him, and it turned the other way around. Takaya saved me."
Ren blinked, then smiled. Shuu-chan called him "Takaya". Even until this afternoon, he was still calling him "Abe".
Motoki chuckled. "That's Taka for ya. But, I'm really grateful ya did someth'n. They pulled Mihashi-san aside ta talk to her after we all heard the basics…I'm sure there was much more than what they told us. Taka was in a lot of danger, and you saved him. Thanks."
Shuugo blushed. "Don't thank me…like I said, I really didn't do much."
"Ya did enough, from what I heard. More than enough. I'm sure Taka was happy, too."
"Yea…he thanked me…" Shuugo nodded slightly. We talked a little before he fell asleep from exhaustion…it was a nice talk. He also made a request…I was surprised to hear it. He said he would thank her when he got out of the hospital, but wanted her to know, at least…
Naoe looked at her son since the conversation seemed to be mostly over. "Ren-chan…I'm going to be very busy the next few days. I'm taking time off of work to take some special classes for what I told you about earlier."
Ren nodded. "I remember."
Naoe smiled and ruffled her son's hair. "Good. You're welcome to play at Shuu-chan's house…I spoke with his mother to confirm it…or come visit Takaya in the hospital. Alright?"
Ren smiled. "Yea!" It's for Takaya-kun, after all. I'm excited…I hope it works. From the sound of it, it will, but mom doesn't want to say anything until it's for certain.
"Good." Naoe smiled back at her son.
Motoki grinned as well, since he caught the secretive smiles going around and knew what they were about.
"Hey…am I going to get to learn why everyone is smiling so creepily for?" Shuugo raised an eyebrow.
Motoki snickered. "Should we tell him? I dunno…"
Naoe also pretended to consider it. "It is a fairly big secret…"
Ren crossed his arms and nodded, though his face gave away that they were doing it to tease Shuugo.
Shuugo rolled his eyes. "If you're going to plot or try to tease me, make sure not to include Ren. His face is an open book, you know."
Naoe sighed. "That's right…I forgot."
Ren pouted while Motoki snickered.
Naoe then smiled and leaned over to whisper to Shuugo. "Well, you see…"
Shuugo's eyes widened in surprise, and he grinned as he listened. Good.
Takaya was never alone when he woke up, and it had nothing to do with his attempt at suicide that had almost been a week ago. He would be staying in the hospital for a month, which was longer than expected, but didn't mind since it meant that was one less day he would have to spend at home.
Sometimes, Ren and Shuugo would even ride their bikes over with Motoki during lunch break at school to visit him. Of course, they would always come after school every day. Motoki always came in the morning, as well, and probably would have skipped school to stay with him a couple times if it weren't for the doctors.
Shuugo had come back after school and gave him a thumbs up; he had said something to the woman like he had promised.
"Hey, Taka!" Motoki jumped onto the bed with a grin. "How're ya feel'n today?"
"Must you jump on the bed?" Takaya grumbled as he put his books aside. Shuugo and Ren brought him his missed class work so he had something to do besides re-read the fiction novels that Naoe had brought him the day his father tried to kill him and Shuugo.
As if in answer to his question, Ren jumped onto the bed as well.
"Good…afternoon, Takaya-kun!" Ren chirped.
Motoki and Shuugo laughed as Takaya grumbled something under his breath.
"Please tell me you aren't going to jump on the bed, too…" Takaya glanced at the third boy.
"Nah…" Shuugo grinned, then winked. "…not enough room!"
Takaya rolled his eyes, but couldn't help the smile on his face as Motoki and Ren nearly fell off the bed, laughing.
"How are things with your folks?" Takaya asked Motoki while Shuugo grabbed a stool to sit on.
"Much better. They're actually moving apart…mom and I are moving out at the end of the week, so I might not be able to come visit ya. Ren and Shuu said they would, though!"
Shuugo crossed his arms. "…stop calling me that."
Motoki just gave him a cheeky grin, then turned to Takaya. "Dun worry…it's still in the Nishiura area. Mom said I could still go there, and to the Junior High. Will be a small commute, but we promised each other we'd go together, so mom's fine with it."
Takaya smiled in relief that he wouldn't be separated from Motoki. "Good."
"Oki-sensei said she would come and visit," Shuugo told Takaya, "So, think of what you're going to say."
Takaya nodded in understanding.
Shuugo then grinned. "And, I was finally able to do something for a change."
"Hah?" Takaya blinked.
Ren had an eager look on his face, and Motoki grinned, apparently let in on the secret as well.
Shuugo beamed. "Well, I checked into the incident on the stairs. Asked around…Ren helped, too."
"They didn't tell me 'bout it till they had it finished," Motoki said to Takaya with a huge pout. "Aren't they mean?"
Takaya snorted on a laugh.
Shuugo continued after he gave Motoki a playful smack upside the head. "So, we found out what really happened. It was Hatake."
"Why am I not surprised…?" Takaya mused.
Shuugo nodded. "Apparently, the louse made an excuse to go use the toilet just after you left the room that day. There was no evidence that it was him, since he sort of hit and ran, but when I heard he left the room, and it was only him and Hiiragi there that day with a couple teachers…someone would have seen someone as big as a teacher running off, but not a student."
"No evidence, though, huh…?" Takaya sighed.
Silence.
Takaya looked up to see grins on the faces of Shuugo and Motoki. Even Ren looked a bit smug. "Alright, what aren't you telling me?"
"Well, yea, there was no evidence, but…when Ren and I figured out it was Hatake, we told Motoki about it." Shuugo grinned even wider.
"I…don't usually like…violence, but…" Ren fidgeted.
Motoki snickered. "I made that bastard squeal like the little pig he is."
Takaya chuckled.
Shuugo's smile widened. "Yep! I think Hatake actually peed himself! No joke! Motoki put him in his place, then dragged him to the principal's office and made him admit the deed."
"Wasn't just me at that point, though," Motoki admitted. "Ren went and got that teacher of yours, since I couldn't exactly smack the bastard around in fronta the principal."
"Oki-sensei was…really angry," Ren added with wide eyes as he remembered it.
Shuugo pulled his legs up to sit cross-legged on the stool. "It's always the quiet ones. Even a quiet teacher can be quite scary. Hatake is looking at some fierce charges. He's a minor, though, so it won't be jail time, but he at least got expelled and is looking at either time in a detention center or community service."
"Hiiragi-kun and…Yoshi-kun…don't know what to do…without him." Ren giggled almost gleefully.
Takaya shook his head in awe. "Wow…"
"Yea. No more Hatake." Shuugo stretched. "He probably won't be allowed into Nishiura Junior High, either. Pushing someone down the stairs can be deadly, so when I say he's facing fierce charges, I mean it. Possible criminal charges."
"And my old man?" Takaya inquired.
Shuugo would have leaned back if the stool had a backboard. "Since there were witnesses and cameras…"
"He's screwed!" Motoki sounded happy about that. "He'll totally be go'n to jail. If he's convicted, and I'm sure he will be…it'll be for life cause it's attempted murder on two minors."
Takaya let out a breath in relief. "What about Shun?"
"He's bunk'n with a friend, I heard, while his mom's in therapy." Motoki shrugged. "I dunno if they're gonna release him back inta her custody or find a foster home for him, or find relatives."
"Relatives…" Takaya mumbled. I wonder if they'll put me with relatives. I can't say I've met much of my relatives, but the ones I have met…I didn't like them. Or even worse, release me back with that bitch…
"No worries. In the least, they aren't going to send you back to that house," Motoki noticed Takaya's expression. He then smiled. "Anyway, there's been someone wait'n ta see ya."
"Eh?"
The door opened, and Takaya was surprised to see Kumiko Oki walk through.
Oki smiled at the boys. "Good afternoon." She had seen them going into the room, and decided to let them have a little time before she interrupted. She didn't know Motoki very well since he wasn't a student of hers, but she spotted him around Shuugo and Ren lately. He must have seen me as he went into the room.
"Afternoon!" Shuugo and Ren responded. Takaya was still a little surprised, since he obviously didn't expect to see her so soon, and Motoki just gave a nod.
Oki noticed how the boys seemed to form a protective ring around Takaya, even though it was just her there, and couldn't help but smile. "I'm glad to see you, Abe-kun. I was worried, so I decided to come visit."
Takaya looked a little embarrassed, though the only one that knew completely why was Shuugo.
Motoki nudged his friend. "Say some'n, stud."
Takaya flushed even more and swatted at the other boy. " 'Toki!"
Shuugo chortled, and Ren muffled a laugh.
Oki smiled. They're all laughing. Even Abe-kun…even after what happened, he's laughing. It's nice…
"Why are…you crying, sensei?" Ren was the first to notice.
Oki wiped her eyes and shook her head, smile still there. "I'm just happy to see you all smiling and having a good time."
This time, all four boys blushed.
Takaya fiddled with the covers. She was honestly worried. Even back when I left, she was truly concerned about me. It's…hard to believe. First, Mihashi-san, who often comes and just sits with me and asks questions when the guys are at school, and now…
"Takaya."
Said boy looked over at Shuugo.
Shuugo nodded to him. "I thanked her for you, but I didn't tell her why. That's something you have to do."
Ren and Motoki looked a bit puzzled.
Takaya took a deep breath, then let it out and looked at the teacher. "Ah…sensei?"
"Yes?" Oki smiled at him.
Takaya looked away uncomfortably, but it wasn't a bad sort. I'm not sure how to say it…
"Just be yourself," Shuugo spoke as if he could hear Takaya's thoughts.
Takaya gave him a grateful look, and felt Motoki take his hand. Sure, his best friend didn't know the situation, but he could still sense that Takaya was hesitating about something.
Even Ren had scooted closer slightly as if offering his support, as well.
It was so much that Takaya had to push back tears, as he once again felt that warmth that had been around him for the entire week. The warmth of being cared for…I guess.
Oki just waited patiently, still with a smile.
"I…ah…asked the doctor," Takaya finally stammered out. "Because I know my blood type isn't common, so…I wanted to know who…" …who I should thank for saving my life by donating blood, even if they didn't know it would be my life they saved.
Takaya mentally shook his head, then ploughed on as he looked up. "Thank you. It was because of the blood you donated that I didn't die. I'm…I'm glad."
Oki wiped her eyes and placed a hand gently on Takaya's head. "I donate every chance I get, because I know how rare my blood type is. I'm glad, too…that I was able to help, even in such a small, indirect way."
Takaya blushed and looked down. "It…wasn't small. Not to me…"
"Or us," Shuugo added with a smile. "Thank you, sensei!"
"Thank you!" Ren echoed.
Motoki beamed. "Thanks!"
Oki pulled her hand back, obviously touched by the sentiments. Again, she had to wipe her eyes from the tears of joy. "You're all very welcome."
TO BE CONTINUED…