Love is Worth Everything
Book 4:
Love is a Burden Worth Bearing
By: Emily Ishida
"Ohayo gozaimasu, Matt!" Joe Kido greeted, with a few cups in his hands. "I'm almost done with breakfast...how do you like your eggs?"
"Um...over easy," Matt answered quickly, still shocked by Joe's sudden appearance. "Um...I don't mean to be rude, but why are you here, Joe?"
"Oh that's simple, really...I was heading home from medical school when I saw you in the middle of the sidewalk, and carried you on my back home. Then...don't take this wrong, Yamato Ishida...I got you into a pair of my pajamas when I stopped by my house, and put you to bed. Also I did some cleaning. But I DID spend the night...on the couch mind you," Joe replied, tending to some bacon.
"Hai...hai..." Matt said, understanding everything. He knew how against homosexuality Joe was, in exception of Tai...everyone knew now. Joe was always understanding, and a great friend. Matt smiled as he thought of the times Joe helped him through...
"Come, come. Sit down...don't look so stressed..." Joe offered, smiling warmly. He and Izzy had that effect.
"Okay," Matt murmured with a chuckle. It still surprised him about Joe cleaning his ENTIRE bachelor home...which was almost impossible until Joe cam around.
"So...I hear Tai was in love with you?" Joe asked. Joe then realized that it wasn't the best subject, cause Matt's eyes grew dim.
"IS in love with me," Matt corrected.
"Oh. New subject," Joe changed it fast, knowing this would depress Matt.
"Nah, we better talk about it," Matt assured him, drinking some orange juice. "It'll help the grief anyway."
"Alright."
"Well, Tai and I were always best friends. We fought, of course...but we cared for each other secretly. When I found out that he had loved me from the start, it explained the whole thing with Mimi...and the unfair request he made. He loved me, Joe...and I couldn't except him...I'm not that way. I'm in love with Mimi, and I know I hurt him. Now I don't know if our friendship will stay stable!" Matt's eyes grew angry. His heart was beating wildly, and his mind was rewinding to the past...how Tai cried...he never cried. It was Matt's turn to cry.
"Yamato," Joe whispered, slowly rising from his chair and lifting Matt up on his feet. He sat down in Matt's chair, bringing Matt down onto his lap, holding him as poor Yamato cried his heart and soul onto Joe's blue shirt. "Gomen nasai..."
"Joe...I can't bear it!" Matt choked, clutching Joe's shirt. He felt safe...and cared for in Joe's arms. Joe was a wonderful friend and confidant.
Hours later Matt left his home, where Joe stayed to clean a bit, to meet Izzy. When he was walking down the street, he came across Sora, who was in her tennis uniform.
"Konnichi wa, Yamato," Sora greeted. Matt waved with a smile.
"Hey there," Matt answered. "You're going to a tennis match today?"
"Yeah, I'm playing against a girl named Hana. She's supposed to be really good," Sora replied. "I'll talk to you later okay?"
"Okay. Mata aimasho."
"Mata aimasho...oh, and I'm sorry about this whole thing!" Sora called out, continuing her run to the tennis court.
Matt continued down the street, finally finding Izzy, who looked so glum.
"Izzy, what's the matter?" Matt asked.
"It's Tai, I went to tell him the news and he raged. Then he cried...saying something like love is a teasing game...for when you find the one you think they love, they turn to love someone else. I didn't understand...he's going through hell..." Izzy answered sadly. Matt's eyes filled with tears.
"Oh no," Matt sobbed. "I ruined his life!"
"What do you mean by this, Yamato?"
"Izzy...he loved me. And I couldn't love back. I'm in love with Mimi..."
"Oh...I see. And I'm in love with Yolei. But you know what?"
"What?"
"There's a boy in my classes who loves me too, and I ruined his life as well. But he WILL get over it."
"Arigato, Koushiro!"
"Anything for a friend." What could ruin this precious moment then a visit from the man they all feared now...or at least Matt feared...then Mr. Tachikawa. He saw Mr. Tachikawa walking towards them with a bottle in his hand. "Konnichi wa, Mr. Tachikawa!" Izzy called out. Matt wanted to hush Izzy up, but it was too late. Mr. Tachikawa was walking to them.
"Konnichi wa, Izzy!" Mr. Tachikawa said with a carefree voice. "How's life treating you these days?"
"Wonderful, Mr. Tachikawa!" Izzy beamed, finally remembering his joy about marrying Yolei. He had proposed to her the night before. Matt knew this was going to lead to something bad.
"So desu ka? Explain it," Mr. Tachikawa said, hiding the bottle behind his back.
"No Izzy!" Matt suddenly burst. Izzy looked astonished, and so did Mr. Tachikawa.
"Why not, boy?" Mr. Tachikawa asked, stumbling a little and focusing real hard on Matt. Matt was now sure that Mr. Tachikawa was drunk. He said nothing. "Let Izzy finish his sentence, boy! Go ahead Izzy."
"I'm going to be a dad, Mr. Tachikawa! And a husband!" Izzy bragged. He was certainly proud of this, and Matt knew Izzy was in for it.
"How old are you?" Mr. Tachikawa asked, sounding a little bit more harsh.
"1-18, sir," Izzy answered, now understanding what Matt was so worried about.
"18! Let me tell you boy you're WAY too young to be having kids! Sex isn't some game, Koushiro! You can't just go screw some girl and think of it as FUN! Games are fun. NOT sex! Who's the mother?"
"M-Miyako I-Inoue, sir."
"Yolei! What the HELL'S with you boy?" Mr. Tachikawa advanced on the auburn haired boy who coward in fright. "Are you COMPLETELY fucked?"
"I...uh...no, I..." Izzy stuttered. As Mr. Tachikawa was ready to hit poor Izzy, he noticed Matt standing by with a worried expression.
"What? Have YOU been screwing Mimi? Is SHE pregnant? Huh? ANSWER ME!"
"I-Iie, Mr. Tachikawa, I..."
"You what? WHAT?" Soon, Izzy and Matt were being pulled by their arms into an alleyway, all other people too busy to notice. Izzy cried for help, but Mr. Tachikawa's iron grasp sealed his mouth shut. "Do what I say! You both need a lesson learned! If your parents won't do it I WILL!"
"No!" Matt yelled. But a fist in the stomach shut him up right away.
"SHUT UP, YAMATO! You can't run from discipline! This is for your OWN good!" Mimi's father was beating Matt and Izzy to a bloody pulp, giving them no mercy. Soon they were too worn to speak or move.
"N-no..." Matt whispered, only to be slapped quiet. Matt could feel punches being dug deep into his sides. Izzy opened his eyes from behind Mr. Tachikawa, watching in horror while Mr. Tachikawa beat Matt down, and barely had enough strength to kick his back.
"What kind of shit are you trying to pull?" Mr. Tachikawa chuckled, punching Izzy cold.
"Iie! Iie!" Matt forced himself to scream. But it did no good. More hits came to him. Fists hit and scarred his limp form...fists cold as ice.
"You first, Yamato Ishida," Mr. Tachikawa cackled, shifting into position above Matt, ready to kick. "You gonna screw women whenever you want to, you rock punk? Well, you've got a lot to learn Yamato! You're next, Koushiro!" Mr. Tachikawa yelled.
No...dear God don't let him do this to me! Matt begged God, everything blacking out before him.
When Matt woke up, he was in a hospital bed. He looked around at his surroundings: Flowers addressed to him, cards, a box of candy...From Mimi no doubt! Matt smiled to himself. Realizing where he was, he was unsure why he was even here. But when it came to him...that he had been beaten to a bloody pulp by that man...his heart began to beat 100 mph.
"Izzy?" Matt murmured, trying to get up. But he was too weak.
"No, Mr. Izumi is next door," a female voice answered. Matt saw a nurse arranging the flowers for him.
"I need to see Izzy!"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Ishida, but he's out cold. They're still working with him." The nurse seemed to really like Matt. But then again...he was famous.
"DOZO! I HAVE to speak to him!"
"Gomen, Yamato. You can't, now rest. You're all worked up, now."
"Iie! Is Izzy okay?"
"He's fine. He just broke a rib. That's all. Now rest."
"Iie!"
"Dozo, Yamato! Dozo!" Matt was furiously trying to get out of the bed, but couldn't. His leg had been broken from the impact of the brick wall in the alley. The nurse was desperately trying to calm him down, but to no avail. When he did calm down, though, he wouldn't speak to the nurse. "You have some visitors, Yamato," the nurse said. She left the room with a sigh.
"Yama!" Mimi squealed, running to his bedside and hugging him tight.
"Ow...hi Mimi," Matt whispered, stroking Mimi's hair yet wincing in pain all at once. The fresh scent of strawberry and melon arose from her soft pink hair. Matt loved that scent...it nearly drove him wild.
"Matt! Matt are you alright?" Another voice asked. It was Takeru.
"Hey, T.K.," Matt greeted. T.K. ran into Matt's arms, hugging him just like he would when he was a kid.
"What happened?" Tai asked.
"..."
"Matt?"
"N-nothing, I...actually, I'm not quite sure."
"Whatever. Matt, we're your friends. Please. The forensic scientists will find out anyway."
"I-I..."
"Kudasai, Matt?" Mimi pleaded. Matt couldn't resist that.
"We...Izzy and I...we were beaten...to where we broke some bones."
"WHAT!?" everyone gasped in unison.
"By who?" Sora begged, leaning to Matt and holding his hand.
"I-I can't..."
"Please?"
"I..."
"Matt, if you don't, whoever it is may come back for you and try again!" Kari insisted. Matt didn't want to hurt Mimi, and decided it was for the best.
"No. I CAN'T! Don't try to make me. I can't, don't you understand that?" Matt turned his head harshly away, refusing everyone's protests. Tai was the only one who understood his decision...probably because of what he and Sora did.
"Listen, everyone. If he doesn't feel comfortable saying who right now then we have to respect that. He needs all the freedom and support he needs from us...especially Sora and I..." Tai's voice trailed off, and he glanced at Sora, who glanced at him with a guilty frown. "I think we should let him rest. Let's go."
Everyone left, one by one saying their goody-bye's and good luck's, and the last one standing was Mimi.
"Yama, if you ever DO tell someone, for example...me," Mimi paused to see if he'd pick up on the clue. He did, but he didn't react. Mimi continued. "Then we'll kill him. Not literally, but if it ever comes to that, it will be worth it. I already HATE the man. Aishiteru, Yamato."
"Aishiteru, Mimi." Matt watched Mimi leave the room, sighing heavily as she did so. Before she left his sight, he called to her, "It's too bad you won't WANT to hate him or kill him when you find out who it is, Mimi."
Mimi bent backwards to look into the room again, seeing Matt with his head turned away from her. She sighed, and left. Matt's eyes stung with tears, and he didn't want Mimi to see.
That night, Matt was determined to see Izzy. So with all effort he had, he climbed out of the hospital bed, reached for the door, and hopped on one leg to the room next door. Even though he was in a lot of pain, he was making the effort for Izzy.
When he entered the room, Izzy was strangely awake even if it WAS 2:10 in the morning. Izzy was happy to see Matt again, thanking God he was alive and well...almost.
"Hi, Matt!" Izzy whispered.
"Hi, Izzy. How are you doing?"
"Just peachy. Although I do have a broken rib, a sore arm, and got nearly killed by a man I use to trust and am worn from it, but eitherwise life is treating me pretty good," Izzy joked with some sarcasm. Matt chuckled quietly.
"I wanted to ask if you said anything to Yolei on who did this?"
"No...it would hurt her too much...she likes Mr. Tachikawa a lot...so I said nothing."
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want anyone to know, got it?"
"Hai."
"I'll leave you to rest, now..." Before Matt could leave, he felt Izzy's fearful hand grasp at him in clue to stay with him. "What?"
"I want your company."
"Hai, Izzy. Hai," Matt chuckled, seating himself on the bed trying not to hurt his leg.
"Gomen, I am just lonely."
"That's alright. What're you lonely about?"
"After what happened I don't think I want to be left alone for a while."
"Ah...hai."
The two boys spoke in low whispers, and Matt fell asleep on Izzy's stomach. By morning, they felt a whole lot better. That is, until a nurse finally came in.
"What the heck! Yamato what are you doing in here? How'd you get in?" the nurse panicked, worried more about her job then what it LOOKED like.
"W-what?" Matt asked sleepily, yawning a large yawn. "Oh...oh ohayo gozaimasu, Ms."
"Ohayo gozaimasu, but Matt what did I tell you about coming in here? You're in horrible condition!"
"Uh huh...and what about Izzy?" Matt answered smartly, pointing quietly to a peaceful sleeping Izzy, who still held Matt's hand.
"What about him? You're both hurt!"
"He's so innocent...he didn't deserve it...and as someone who cares for him so much I am entitled to make sure he is well!" Matt answered roughly, looking the nurse straight in the eyes. The nurse couldn't take the eye contact and looked away.
"Hai..." she murmured, understanding. Smiling softly, she finally began to think why Matt was so protective of him. "You make a cute couple."
"Huh?" Matt queried, but the nurse had left. Matt sighed, looking down upon a beaten Izzy. Cute couple? He wasn't gay...or bi. Why the heck did she think that? Izzy and I are only friends! Right? Shocked by his thought, he looked upon Izzy again. No...they weren't a couple. But Matt did love him...as a friend.
Matt bent lower, kissing Izzy's sweating forehead. But it wasn't a kiss of love...it was just a friendly kiss...to show Izzy, though he was sleeping...that he was always there.
"Y-Yama?" Izzy murmured, his eyes fluttering open. "D-did I just get kissed?"
"Yes you did," Matt answered. "By me."
"Yamato, I'm not..."
"I know. I'm not either. I only kissed you because you're my friend...besides, you looked so kawaii sleeping there...so peaceful...I knew you didn't deserve it."
"Oh, I see. Thanks, Matt. It feels awkward to be kissed by your best friend, but who gives a shit? You'll always be my friend, Yama." Izzy began to cry, tears running down his soft, tender cheeks. Matt smiled and cried too.
"Always..." Just as Matt was finishing his sentence, they heard rushing down the hallway. Matt stumbled up, followed by a hurt Izzy, to peak out the door. A flash of pink upon a pillow dashed by them on a rolling hospital bed. "Mimi!" Matt was determined to get down there. Seeing a medicine cart, Izzy and Matt had an idea.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Izzy asked.
"Way ahead of you, brother!" Matt answered with a laugh. He and Izzy rushed to the cart, throwing all of the needles and medicines from the top. Matt ordered Izzy to get onto the cart, and Matt pushed, being the muscle man he was, and rushed on one leg in pain, but in all good intentions.
"There she is!" Izzy pointed into a room that they were passing. Matt halted with a slide, but pulled back with Izzy on top, which wasn't easy.
Both guys rushed into the room, where doctors were crowding the bed. Matt shoved them all aside, gasping with tears at the sight he saw. There lay Mimi, beaten and scarred with many bruises denting her angel face, and Matt knew who did it.
"MIMI!" Matt raged. The doctors ordered him out, but he refused. "GET OUT! All of you! Are you deaf? Leave!" Matt's words hit the doctors hard, and they rushed out. Matt stood over Mimi, grasping her hand. "Mimi what happened to you? Please? Answer me!"
"Yama," Mimi whispered. "He did this...I can't believe he'd do it..."
"Your father?"
"Hai! Hai! He hurt me, Matt! And I KNOW he hurt you!" Mimi cried, her whole fragile body shaking in fear and pain. "Oh, Matt! He hurt you so bad!"
"No. I only broke my leg! Look what he did to you!"
"Yama...aishiteru SO much!" Mimi sobbed, clinging to Matt.
"Aishiteru...I'll KILL him! I'll kill the bastard!" Matt cried, anger filling his trembling voice as the tears flowed. He held Mimi, brushing her hair with his shaking fingers.
Matt rushed out, this time using both legs, stumbling as he ran. Ignoring Mimi's cries to stop, he rushed, with Izzy close behind. "MATT! What are you doing?"
"Getting revenge!" Matt raged, heading into the elevator.
Okay I lied! There will be a chapter 5, okay? It got too long...besides, this kinda leaves you all eager to find out what happens next, huh? Heehee! Email me at ButterflyBaby12345@hotmail.com.
Translations:
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Ohayo gozaimasu - Good morning
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Hai - Yes
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Gomen nasai - I'm sorry
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Konnichi wa - Hello
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Mata aimasho - See you later
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Arigato - Thank you
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So desu ka - Is that so?
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Iie - No
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Dozo - Another term for "please"
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Gomen - Sorry
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Kudasai - Most popular term for "please"
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Aishiteru - "I love you"
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Kawaii - Cute
