N.A: Moshi Moshi everyone! I hope that you all be fine! ;)
Sorry for all the mistakes in language, if you see something, just tell me and I can correct. Thank You! :3
Don't forget that "Authors are moved by reviews" and thank you all guys that follow or favorite the story, and a very special thanks to those who review, you really gave me force to continue! Love you!
So, I can just hope that you guys don't hate me already . I was on a vacation and went to a trip \O/, and I wouldn't have much time to write, so I don't even bring the notebook with me, I just write in the cellphone all what I could, and now that I'm back I'm posting! Sorry again
Hope the next chapter for the end of the next week, at the most.
And after all, I really hope that you guys like it!
Chapter 8
- That's it Kotoko, go home and talk to your family, tomorrow at 08:00 AM I want you here to do some final exams and in the afternoon we already have the surgery, okay?
- So fast? – She asked, surprised.
- Yes, of course! We have to be as fast as we can, so as not to give the aneurysm a chance to break… For me, we would do it today, but I think you'd better prepare yourself psychologically and tell everyone what is going on, especially with Naoki… But remember: you can't be nervous! It increases the blood pressure and could make the aneurysms to break… So this is our deal: if anyone annoys you or you became nervous or anxious, you leave the room and let the person talking with yourself, right?
- All right Jiro, it is a deal! I'll just talk with the head nurse and…
- No, ma'am! – Interrupted the doctor with a gentle voice – You go straight home, rest. I'll talk to her by myself!
- Thanks, Jiro – Replied with a smile that almost remember her natural, which warmed the doctor and friend's heart, after seeing her crying so much…
-You're welcome… Ah, Kotoko, I almost forgot – handing a card to her, he continued – If you feel anything, especially headaches, it may be day or night… Call me immediately okay? Don't take it out this card of your pocket, it can save your life! Promise you will not miss it?
-It's okay, I promise! In what pocket did I put it? - Said the woman in a tone that showed that despite everything, she was feeling a little better for make jokes, and giggling, she added – See you tomorrow!
- See you tomorrow, honey.
She had barely closed the office door, noticed Keita coming fast toward her and smile noticing the worried tone in her friend's voice as he asked: "So, how did it go?"
-Complicated... Do you know where Naoki is?
-I told him that you would be here, but the head nurse told us that he was feeling bad and his patients of today should be referred to other doctors, so I think he must have gone back home… But you won't escape this way, miss! Tell me, what "complicated" mean?
-It means multiple aneurysms – She gave a sad chuckle and continued – Mommy's present… They are blood bubbles in the brain that when broken they cause stroke, as my mom passed away because of that, Jiro thinks that it is hereditary…
- I'm sorry about this Kotoko, but at least it is something that has treatment and it is a simple surgery, right? I was working with a patient who had this, he left last month without complications…
-It may even be a simple surgery Keita, but my Mom died because of it, after months of suffering... And just to think that Mi-chan is very likely to go through the same thing… - Her voice sounding harder than she wanted, she felt bad for treating her friend like that… She took a deep breath and continued, her tone almost normal, although her voice still shatter a little due her emotions are on the edge of her skin – Look, thanks for try to cheer me up and I'm sorry about all this, it is just I'm really not well and all that I want is to go home…
-It is okay sis, you don't need to apologize okay? – And with a sad smile, finished – I know that things aren't easy for you and being afraid it is very normal at the moment… But try to remember that even your mom did not succeed, you discovered the disease before her and this gives you a lot more chances… Also, you are very strong and have many motives to fight for your life! It will be all right, you will see!
Kotoko hugged him as if was the last time that she could do this, what breaks her friend's heart instantly, yet he decided for saying nothing and just return the hug the same way… Then, she said goodbye and went home, now worried not just with her illness but also wondering what had happened to her husband…
He had no idea of how much time had passed since his "nervous breakdown" – as he decided to call the only burst of cry that he had in his life… As he calmed down, Naoki unlocked the door to his bedroom (though he hadn't left the room or warned his mother because he definitely didn't intend to talk to her at that moment), he sat by the window and watched the calm of the street and the people passing by, a behavior that contrasted a lot with the confusion in his soul…
He saw his brother coming home and his father-in-law leaving to the work... His father-in-law, he knew that he couldn't continue to call him that way for much more time, not after what he found the true about Kotoko's betrayal… With the imminent end of his marriage, he would lose the contact with the man that had become his second father – He clenched his fists with anger – just one more thing to raise his suffer, a direct result of his wife's acts…
After some more time, he realized that the object of his thoughts approached to the house at a slow step... Kotoko was pale and even half-disheveled, he felt his anger increase even more, perhaps Nishigaki has provided this appearance for her… A more rational little voice in his conscience shouted that if something had really happened between the two of them today, she wouldn't come back so early from the work (which was already strange for itself) and, first of all, she wouldn't be so sad… But he preferred to ignore it because he knew that was so desperate to wake up from this nightmare that would believe in any nonsense that could justify all this, so he had decided that as soon as his wife entered the room, he would confront her and say that their marriage was over, no matter how much she trying to defend herself… He was tired of hearing lies!
She entered the house a little more confident than when she left the hospital, as always, she had to think positive! Jiro and Keita were right, she was overreacting… The surgery was simple and her family was by her side, besides, Naoki could not be the more attentive or affectionate of the husbands and even if he doesn't love her anymore, she knew him well enough to know that he cared for her enough to not abandon her at this critical moment.
- You are home early, what happened? The staff finally realized that you are more helpful far away from the patients?
-For your information, I take good care of my patients Yuki! And you? Did you get in early from college too, did you get kicked out for being so annoying?
-Actually, it was for being so intelligent. I had a test and since I finished very quickly, I left early. Nothing out of the ordinary, actually… Not that you've ever been through this, have you? – He finished with his trademark smile that said: "I won again!".
Kotoko then stick her tongue out to him and started to upstairs, as if she was angry, but in the fact the way that she and Yuki always teased each other was just the way the two of them managed to show they liked each other and they both knew of this "gentlemen's agreement", even though they had never actually talked about it… On a second thought, their relationship was very odd...
And it was laughing at this though that she came in front of her room... She knew that Naoki was there because she saw him at the window and already felt more nervous than she should due to the deal with Jiro, her head already starting to hurt… Even so, she gathered all her courage and took a deep breath, opened the door already with a smile and said "Irie-kun, how are you feeling? The guys in the hospital told me that you came home early and I was worried…"
-Were you worried about me? "I think that it is hard to believe, at this point…"
-Hey, our photo, what happened to it? – She started to gather the frame's pieces and the photograph itself…
-It was a little accident… - He said with a chill tone, as when she had confessed at the first time, so many years ago…
-Well, we can buy another frame later then, although it really was a shame, that was so beautiful… "He is so weird, it seems like he was hit by a truck and besides, he never spoke to me in that tone after we got married…" – And of course I'm worried about you, I am your wife after all! Tell me, how are you feeling? Better?
-I'm fine Kotoko and you really should have more important things to worry about… -"For example, how are you going to start telling me about your lover…".
"Does he already know about everything and is angry that I have not talked to him before? He is so proud and shouldn't have liked it when I went to see another doctor…" – Well, there really is something that I need to tell you Irie-kun, to the whole family actually, but I thought that would be better to tell you first…
- Oh, there it is! I knew it wouldn't be long... It's funny how I back to being "Irie-kun" now, right Kotoko? – He smiled in a wryly, even bitter way.
- What you mean? – She felt her nervousness intensifying at each minute, her legs weaker due the anxiety...
- You spend days without even looking at me, then suddenly, enter this room with a smile on your face and act as if nothing had happened? It's obvious that you did something very wrong Kotoko... You definitely don't know to hide your game right, 'cause I even already know what you want to tell me... I heard your "talk" with Nishigaki this morning! There's no point in lying to me anymore!
- Hide my game? To lie? What are you talking about Naoki? And if you overheard the conversation, why the hell didn't you enter the office? Jiro wanted to talk to you and I needed you there... – She felt hurt again because of her husband's behavior... He heard everything and even so left her alone...
- Enter there? And mess up your "little party"? Oh no, thank you! Even because, by your appearance, I would just have bothered you and Jiro, haven't I?
- Little party? Naoki, are you still sick? What the hell are you talking about? – She put the hand in her temple and began to massage it, trying to appease the headache that became stronger at each moment... She knew that was time to leave the room but wanted, or rather, needed to tell him everything...
-I already told you that I know everything, Kotoko! You can stop with this ridiculous theater... I know that you are having an affair with Nishigaki since my trip to that congress! – Though his voice was cold and calm, his look begun to betray the facade of indifference, not that Kotoko, nervous like she was, noted this...
- What are you saying Naoki? Are you out of your mind? Unlike her husband, Kotoko was already elevating her voice, due the surprise at Naoki's words.
- Look, I confess that this history affect me at the beginning, because of Kotomi – he continued in the same chilly and indifferent tone of before – but later I realized that maybe this way can be better 'cause I can raise her in a way that she can learn to be a woman very different from her mother... "I hope you leave this house so hurt as I am, even if I have to lie about everything! Absolutely everything Kotoko!"
- Listen Naoki, I don't know what you heard, but we are together long enough to you know me better than that! You have to know that I would never leave you and Kotomi to be with another man, I love you two! I love you! Even with all the problems that we are going through, I would never do anything like that! Why don't you sit down and I'll tell you everything calmly - She said in the most patient and hopeful tone she could find...
-I really don't need to hear any more lies and I definitely don't mind the sordid details, Kotoko. Why don't you pack up and leave this house before Kotomi arrives? I'll give her your goodbye! He said in the same tone of Kotoko, but the latent difference was the irony is his words…
- I would never leave our daughter! What kind of woman do you think I am? - She was starting to feel much worse, feeling dizzy, she leaned against the dresser where the picture of the two of them was, which she realized, he had broken…
-Who are you? I don't know for sure, but I would bet in that kind of woman that loves to have something forbidden, I was unreachable for you at school so you decided to make me miserable until I married you for pity, now that Nishigaki married you decided to go after him. But I don't think you can make him divorce Kotoko...
-Naoki, you are going too far! - This time she was really screaming, she felt her heart beating faster and faster, as it were going to explode, she was going to faint … "I need to get out of here..."
- You are the one who have gone too far Kotoko, when decided to become such lying and immoral woman! You've crossed the line when decided to be in a relationship with another man being a marriage woman! I knew that we had our problems but I always thought that your love was enough for both of us, I thought that if I respected you and trusted you, even if I didn't love you we would be happy...But I was wrong, wasn't I? You disappointed me Kotoko, you're nothing I thought you were… You're nothing more than a slu…
Before even finish the word, he already was with the red mark of Kotoko's hand in his face, and when he looked at his wife, holding the bedroom door with tears already rolling down her face and a pain expression which he would never forget, he knew that it was over… His family, his marriage and on top of all this, the love of his wife for him… It was over.
-IT'S OVER FOR ME NAOKI! I HATE YOU! - She open the door and ran, without look back… But don't fast enough to don't listen to his husband's last words to her: "What good the love of a woman like you would do to me?" And it was with that phrase in her head that she went downstairs and ran out of the house, away from the pain… Away from him…
Barely knew where she was going, just knew that she had meant it this time… "How could you do that to me Naoki? I hate you! For everything: for forgetting our anniversary, for not coming after me, for not apologize properly and for not have noted that I'm ill… - She felt more dizzy and sick, her head aching like never before, she needed to calm down before all goes worse… But she only could think about him… "I hate you for thinking that I could betray you or get away from Kotomi, I hate you for don't listen to me and even more for everything that you said to me…" – Her body couldn't take it anymore, she felt a strong and sharp pang on her head and fell to the ground, trembling… - "But on top of all this Naoki, I hate you for make me love you until my death, because even with all this, I still love you…" – And it was with this last thought and several pictures of her family and friends going through her head that Kotoko gave goodbye and close her eyes, feeling all the pain finally go away… In a last effort, put the hand in the pocket to take the card that his friend and doctor had given her, but she didn't have energy to even get it out from the pocket…
Yuki saw his sister-in-law going through the living room running and crying just to leave the house and before his mother had to spend another restless night because of the "couple of the year", put his shoe on and went after her – "Nobody deserves these two, I can only pray to not be with a crazy like Kotoko nor be an idiot like my brother…" – He kept running after her but nothing had prepared him for what he saw around the corner: His sister-in-law, his friend was lying on the floor… He rushed over her, leaned her head on his arm, while already calling an ambulance…
- Hold on Kotoko, the help is coming... – The silence was his answer and frightened by his sister-in-law's condition, Yuki started to analyze how she was and noted that her hand was in the pocket of her pants… "Strange way to fall..." And without understand exactly what that means, begun to search the pocket and found a card of the hospital – "'Romajiro Nishigaki – Chief Surgeon'… I already heard this name before…" – Taking his cell phone again, dialed the number on the card, never taking his eyes off Kotoko…
-Moshi! Moshi! Nishigaki here...
-Oy, Dr. Romajiro Nishigaki? From Tonan Hospital?
- That's right, who's talking?
-Doc, my name is Yuki Irie, I'm Naoki's brother and Kotoko's brother-in-law…
"Shit, by the urgency in his voice..." – I know who you are Yuki, something happen with Kokoto, right?
-Yes! I think they fought and she ran out of the house, I followed her to make sure she would be fine but when I reached her she already was fainted on the sidewalk… There's no bleeding at the moment but I don't know if she hit her head… I already called an ambulance, but I need to tell my family what happened… - His voice was a little hoarse and didn't show the confidence that was common to him…
-You are very smart Yuki, you are going to save her life… Listen to me: it's very important that you stay calm as you are now until the end, okay? When the ambulance arrives you tell them to bring her here because I already have a surgical team ready… You can let me, I will call Naoki and tell him everything… Deal?
-Deal! – His voice was a little less shaky now that everything was progressing...
Nishigaki said goodbye and immediately dialed his friend's number – "I really am an irresponsible jerk, what got into me? I should have hospitalized her in the morning, if she dies now, I will blame myself forever… But why the hell this these two fight at such a time? Even Naoki couldn't be so insensitive, given Kotoko's state..."
-Moshi! Moshi!
-Irie? It's me, Jiro, I need you...
- What you want, Nishigaki? – Interrupted abruptly the young doctor – Or maybe Kotoko already calls you and you decided to try to defend her?
- What are you talking about, Naoki?
- I already know that you two are having an affair Nishigaki! And don't even try to deny it, I heard your conversation this morning… I heard her saying that she will abandon me to be with you and…
- That's the reason that you fight? – Now was Nishigaki's turn to interrupt, the training about how to give difficult news to the patient's family completely forgotten, such rage that he felt by the nonsense motive of the fight that could bring Kotoko to death – She really was talking about abandon you, but in the mean of die, you big idiot!
-What? – Naoki's breathing was suspended by the implication of what he was listening... – This is a lie!
-A lie? Came to the hospital then and I show you the exams Naoki: She has multiple aneurysms, the same way her mother had...
- I... I... Didn't knew... Why didn't she tell me?
- We confirmed this morning, why the hell you think I would call you to my office?!... – Naoki heard the tired sigh of his friend – Listen, your brother already is with her in the ambulance coming to here and I have to prepare myself for the surgery, so please take your family and come to the hospital as faster as possible, I need someone here to sign wherever authorization is needed, do you understand me?
- Yes, of course...
He heard the other side of the line became mute and while stared at the phone slipped to the floor feeling his legs turn hollow with dread... "My God, what I've done?"
N.A:That was the eighth chapter, what you guys think?
Particularly, I really think that this and next two chapters are the best of the fic, I love the idea of a Naoki that finally shows his humanity, hope you guys liked too
OBS: Tough I really searched all the medical informations here, I'm not a doctor, I'm not even a health care professional, so if some amazing professional in this area comes to read this humble fanfic, please do not be upset about anything wrong written down here, consider it a "poetic license".
Aki no Ryu: Well, you are right, at least in part, he confronted her, but I think that a person who is heart-broken became a little crazy, and he is a person after all, and he loves her… Like always, thanks for reading and for your review!
Tatistus: Yeah, I always thought that it doesn't matter why you are feeling something, it can cause happiness or sadness, being the truth or not, it is what you are feeling at the moment and that's all what matter, misunderstanding or not, poor Naoki :'(… Thanks for read ;)
Rito Dey: Sorry for all this time, hope you like it! Thanks for read and for your review!
Rockxy: Thank you so much for all your encouragement, if I'm better it's because you help me with your reviews, as the others . And thanks for the language corrections, I already rectify the mistake. And thanks for read and review, I'm really glad that you liked to the point to tell me the errors, to improve the fic!
TabassumH: Thank you so much for your review, I'm already working to correct the errors in the past chapters, thought I think that will still long until I'm capable to write correctly . I'm very glad that you liked the history, hope you continue to read until the end .
Kisses and hugs (XOXO?) and until next week! (I hope).
Sayonara o/