"Manx, can I talk to you alone?", Ken asked.
The redhead nodded, following Ken into the back room.
"This woman…"
"Yazaki Reina?"
"Yeah, is she trustworthy?"
Manx nodded, leaning back against the table. "I haven't worked with her personally, but she seems to be. Persia said one of the doctors that knows about us sent her over."
"What about missions?" Ken inquired. For some reason he wanted to find a flaw in this idea. It didn't make him feel comfortable. "Does she know what we do?"
The redhead smiled, nodding. "She knows about Kritiker and what we do, but not the specifics of it. All she knows is you boys do jobs for us at night, she is to accept that."
Ken looked down, fidgeting nervously with his hands.
"Oh Ken, I know you want to be able to take care of Ran. But right now that isn't possible. As much as I hate to say this, Kritiker can't afford to let your group go.
"I know", Ken whispered.
"I know that you know that. But you're still angry about it."
The brunette didn't respond.
Manx sighed. "Ken, I hate to be the one to bring this up, but you heard the doctor. Ran may never be able to walk again. What is Weiss going to do then? If he can't walk, he will have to be replaced."
Ken was about to speak when Manx held up her hand.
"I don't want to replace him. I don't even want you three active. These aren't my decisions. But you have to face the facts. If that
happens, you are going to have to be strong, Ken."
"Yeah…" He looked out the door, seeing Yoji and the nurse chatting. 'They seem to be getting along. Maybe
I'm just not liking this because it's Ran. Anyway, it isn't like we need her all the time…just while I work.' The brunette nodded after a moment. "Fine, but you know that Ran is going to hate this."
"But you have to make him accept it." Manx took Ken's hand, looking at him with a concern that could almost be considered maternal. "I want Ran to get better. I truly do! I know the three of you want him better as well. But he needs care. The three of you can't do it alone."
"I know…look can I go up and tell him first? You know, before she comes up?"
"Sure", the redhead agreed, watching him walk towards the staircase. "Good luck."
"Yeah, really…"
*
"She WHAT?!"
Ran wasn't taking the news very well.
"Manx brought a nurse to meet you. She's going to be taking care of you while we work and go on missions."
"No!" Ran replied. "Oh hell no!"
"Ran, please don't be this way!" Ken begged, flopping into the chair beside the bed. "Please, please don't act like this. You know I hate when you're upset, but there is nothing else we can do."
The redhead scowled, pouting. "I don't need help! I have you."
"Oh baby…" Ken sighed, his head falling forward. "You will always have me, but I need to work and do the missions…" He paused. "I don't have the time to take care of you as much as you deserve and I hate that! This woman can take care of you and I'll know you're okay. I hate to be downstairs worrying! If she's here, I would feel better about it."
Ran sighed, violet eyes falling closed. "I just don't…trust people."
"I know, koi", Ken whispered.
"Doing this would….it will make you feel better?"
Ken nodded, smiling down at his lover. "Very much."
There was a slight sigh as Ran's eyes opened once again. "I'm telling you now…I hate the idea. Kritiker...they are being…"
"Stupid about this?"
The redhead met his lover's eyes with an affirmative stare.
"I know, koi."
There was silence. Ran was staring at the ceiling once again. They stayed like that for a minute or two, then Ran breathed out.
"Fine."
Standing, Ken leaned over his lover. "So you will meet her?"
"Yes."
Ken kissed Ran gently, then smiled. "Thank you, sweetie."
"Whatever…"
Ken could tell Ran was still pouting, but he had accepted that the brunette was right.
"I'll bring her up in a minute. Don't move!"
"Ha Ha! You're so funny!"
Ken just grinned. "Yoji can't be the only one to crack the jokes here, sweetie!"
Ran sighed, watching his lover walk out of the room. "If I could move, I would have thrown something at
you", he murmured under his breath.
*
"Ran, I want you to meet Yazaki Reina." Ken smiled at his lover, then looked at the nurse. "This is Ran. Just ignore him. He's always grouchy!"
"Oh, I can understand!" she said, smiling at Ken. "You have been though a lot, but hopefully my being here will make things easier on you!"
"Hopefully. It's hard to work and take care of Ran. I really wish I could, but you know…"
"How things are?" the nurse nodded, walking over to the redhead. "I'm very please to meet you!"
"Hn…"
Ken sighed. "Ran, you said you would give her a try!" he whispered.
"No, its quite alright!"
Ran frowned, he already didn't like this woman. She seemed too happy. Happy to a point that it seemed forced or fake. 'But you promised Ken you would try her out!' He reminded himself. "What was the name again?" he asked, trying to be nice.
"Yazaki Reina."
Ken looked from his lover to the woman. She seemed nice enough, but there was still something about her that made him nervous. 'Probably just me. We don't usually have outsiders in our home.' Breathing out, he walked up to the two. "The doctor said this cast is a newer idea. Have you ever dealt with one before?"
"Soft cast…" Nurse Yazaki nodded. "Yep. Just a bunch of straps holding the cast together. Just undo the straps and you can take it off in pieces. Makes it so much easier to take care of the patient."
Ken couldn't deny the fact that she seemed to know what she was talking about. "Great then!"
"Ken!" Omi ran in breathlessly. "Oh, hi!"
"Omi, this is Yazaki Reina. She's Ran's new nurse. That is Omi."
She smiled, nodding to the blond.
"Hi!" Omi grinned, then looked to Ken. "Sorry, but we really, really need help in the shop!"
"Oh, yeah…sure!"
Omi smiled once again and ran away.
"Are you two going to be ok?"
"No problems!" the nurse said, smiling.
"Koi?"
"I'm fine."
"Ok, I'll be back up in a little bit. I love you." Ken bent down, planting a soft kiss on Ran's lips.
"Love you too", Ran smiled up at Ken
"Have fun!" the nurse said, watching as he walked out of the room. She frowned for a moment, then looked back to Ran. "I suppose we need to get to know one another…"
"I don't want to know you", the redhead frowned. "I don't even want you here."
"I wish you wouldn't say those things", nurse Yazaki said, apparently wounded by Ran's remarks. She looked at him for a moment, then smiled. You know, you remind me a lot of my son."
"You have a son?", Ran asked, not really caring.
The nurse nodded. "He's the same age as you, too. I know it would break my heart if he'd done what you did. I hate to think how your poor parents-"
"My parents are DEAD!" Ran snapped. "Didn't Kritiker tell you anything about me? Other than the fact that I tried to kill myself?"
"No...they didn't. G-gomen." The nurse looked deep into Ran's eyes. "Won't you tell me?"
"No." Ran glared up at the woman. "You're standing too close. Go away."
"Ran, I'm here to help you. Won't you let me? Do it for your friends, who love you."
"Fine", Ran sighed.
"Is there anything you need now?", the nurse asked kindly.
Ran lay silent for a minute before nurse Yazaki spoke up again.
"When was the last time you had a bath?"
"I don't know", Ran muttered. "Yesterday, I guess."
"Then we'll start there", the woman decided, standing up and walking out of the room. She came back moments later with some soapy water, a washcloth and a towel.
"Only Ken is allowed to bathe me", Ran glared, his cheeks flushed.
"Is that what he said?"
"That's what I say."
"Well, Ken might not always have time", the nurse said cheerily, unfastening and removing a portion of the body cast. "Hmm...not bad", she grinned, looking over Ran's exposed torso.
"N-nani?" Ran's eyes widened at the comment.
"Nothing. I just hope these bones heal soon. Now. Let's get you cleaned up, shall we?"
~~~~~~~~~~
"Is this typical?", Aya asked, smearing her dirty hands on her apron.
"Yeah. We're usually pretty busy on Fridays", Ken answered. He then walked up to Aya, embracing the young woman. "I'm glad that you're here."
"Yes. Me, too", Aya nodded, looking away.
"What's wrong?", Ken asked, putting a hand on Aya's shoulder.
"I-I'm really happy to be living here with all of you. And I'm glad that I can help out. Most of all, I'm happy to finally be reunited with my brother. Demo...I wish it didn't take such awful circumstances to get me here. It's my fault. Ran could have died, and now he's...he's..." Interrupted by her own crying, Aya buried her head in Ken's shirt. "I'm so sorry!", she wept. "I'm sorry that I did this to him!"
"Shh..." Ken ran his fingers through Aya's hair with one hand, lightly massaging her back with the other. "You didn't do anything. How would you have known that this was going to happen? Right now, crying isn't going to do us any good. We need to be strong, and support Ran. He's not going to get better if we don't."
Looking up at Ken, Aya nodded tearfully.
"Now, let's get back to the apartment and get ourselves something to eat. I'm starved!" Ken said, rubbing his stomach.
"Hai", Aya laughed.
*
"You eaten yet?", Ken asked as he, Aya, Yoji and Omi came into the bedroom.
"No. But don't you worry about it. I've ordered us pizzas", nurse Yazaki informed him. "I'm sorry that I didn't have time to make something myself, but I was getting aquainted with my new patient here."
Ran just stared up, looking annoyed.
"Oh, that's fine. Any food is good food after the day we've had", Ken laughed.
A few minutes later, the pizza arrived, and Omi began setting places at the table.
"Is this what you do every night?"
Omi looked up at the nurse. "Yes."
"And what about Ran?"
"Well, we eat, and then Ken or Aya goes in and feeds him."
"That not right", nurse Yazaki scolded, shaking her head. "Now, I want all of you to take your chairs into the bedroom. We're going to eat with Ran tonight. Understood?"
Everyone looked at the woman, feeling a little ashamed of themselves. "Understood."
*
Ran looked a little confused as everyone came in and took a seat at his bedside. "Y-you are eating in here?"
"Well, we know you must get lonely", nurse Yazaki said kindly, holding a piece of pizza up to Ran's mouth and waiting for him to accept.
Ran kept his mouth tightly shut.
"Come on, koi", Ken urged, swallowing down some soda. "Aya and I can't feed you all the time. You're going to have to get used to the idea of having the nurse around."
Giving in with a sigh, Ran opened his mouth and took a bite, trying to put the nurse's remark from earlier out of his mind. 'Maybe she just has an unusual bedside manner', he thought, as nurse Yazaki wiped some tomato sauce off of his chin. 'And I really can't expect Ken and Aya to stop their world for me. This will be good for them.'
For awhile, life was good. Nurse Yazaki came in early every morning, making breakfast for everyobody before Aya and Omi had to go to school (high school and college, respectively) and Ken and Yoji started work. She took care of Ran as if he were her own son. It seemed that Ken and Ran's initial misgivings about her were unfounded. Then, the time finally came for Ran to get out of the body cast. Ken, Aya, Yoji, Omi and the nurse waited anxiously to see what he was capable of after all that time in bed.
The redhead nodded, following Ken into the back room.
"This woman…"
"Yazaki Reina?"
"Yeah, is she trustworthy?"
Manx nodded, leaning back against the table. "I haven't worked with her personally, but she seems to be. Persia said one of the doctors that knows about us sent her over."
"What about missions?" Ken inquired. For some reason he wanted to find a flaw in this idea. It didn't make him feel comfortable. "Does she know what we do?"
The redhead smiled, nodding. "She knows about Kritiker and what we do, but not the specifics of it. All she knows is you boys do jobs for us at night, she is to accept that."
Ken looked down, fidgeting nervously with his hands.
"Oh Ken, I know you want to be able to take care of Ran. But right now that isn't possible. As much as I hate to say this, Kritiker can't afford to let your group go.
"I know", Ken whispered.
"I know that you know that. But you're still angry about it."
The brunette didn't respond.
Manx sighed. "Ken, I hate to be the one to bring this up, but you heard the doctor. Ran may never be able to walk again. What is Weiss going to do then? If he can't walk, he will have to be replaced."
Ken was about to speak when Manx held up her hand.
"I don't want to replace him. I don't even want you three active. These aren't my decisions. But you have to face the facts. If that
happens, you are going to have to be strong, Ken."
"Yeah…" He looked out the door, seeing Yoji and the nurse chatting. 'They seem to be getting along. Maybe
I'm just not liking this because it's Ran. Anyway, it isn't like we need her all the time…just while I work.' The brunette nodded after a moment. "Fine, but you know that Ran is going to hate this."
"But you have to make him accept it." Manx took Ken's hand, looking at him with a concern that could almost be considered maternal. "I want Ran to get better. I truly do! I know the three of you want him better as well. But he needs care. The three of you can't do it alone."
"I know…look can I go up and tell him first? You know, before she comes up?"
"Sure", the redhead agreed, watching him walk towards the staircase. "Good luck."
"Yeah, really…"
*
"She WHAT?!"
Ran wasn't taking the news very well.
"Manx brought a nurse to meet you. She's going to be taking care of you while we work and go on missions."
"No!" Ran replied. "Oh hell no!"
"Ran, please don't be this way!" Ken begged, flopping into the chair beside the bed. "Please, please don't act like this. You know I hate when you're upset, but there is nothing else we can do."
The redhead scowled, pouting. "I don't need help! I have you."
"Oh baby…" Ken sighed, his head falling forward. "You will always have me, but I need to work and do the missions…" He paused. "I don't have the time to take care of you as much as you deserve and I hate that! This woman can take care of you and I'll know you're okay. I hate to be downstairs worrying! If she's here, I would feel better about it."
Ran sighed, violet eyes falling closed. "I just don't…trust people."
"I know, koi", Ken whispered.
"Doing this would….it will make you feel better?"
Ken nodded, smiling down at his lover. "Very much."
There was a slight sigh as Ran's eyes opened once again. "I'm telling you now…I hate the idea. Kritiker...they are being…"
"Stupid about this?"
The redhead met his lover's eyes with an affirmative stare.
"I know, koi."
There was silence. Ran was staring at the ceiling once again. They stayed like that for a minute or two, then Ran breathed out.
"Fine."
Standing, Ken leaned over his lover. "So you will meet her?"
"Yes."
Ken kissed Ran gently, then smiled. "Thank you, sweetie."
"Whatever…"
Ken could tell Ran was still pouting, but he had accepted that the brunette was right.
"I'll bring her up in a minute. Don't move!"
"Ha Ha! You're so funny!"
Ken just grinned. "Yoji can't be the only one to crack the jokes here, sweetie!"
Ran sighed, watching his lover walk out of the room. "If I could move, I would have thrown something at
you", he murmured under his breath.
*
"Ran, I want you to meet Yazaki Reina." Ken smiled at his lover, then looked at the nurse. "This is Ran. Just ignore him. He's always grouchy!"
"Oh, I can understand!" she said, smiling at Ken. "You have been though a lot, but hopefully my being here will make things easier on you!"
"Hopefully. It's hard to work and take care of Ran. I really wish I could, but you know…"
"How things are?" the nurse nodded, walking over to the redhead. "I'm very please to meet you!"
"Hn…"
Ken sighed. "Ran, you said you would give her a try!" he whispered.
"No, its quite alright!"
Ran frowned, he already didn't like this woman. She seemed too happy. Happy to a point that it seemed forced or fake. 'But you promised Ken you would try her out!' He reminded himself. "What was the name again?" he asked, trying to be nice.
"Yazaki Reina."
Ken looked from his lover to the woman. She seemed nice enough, but there was still something about her that made him nervous. 'Probably just me. We don't usually have outsiders in our home.' Breathing out, he walked up to the two. "The doctor said this cast is a newer idea. Have you ever dealt with one before?"
"Soft cast…" Nurse Yazaki nodded. "Yep. Just a bunch of straps holding the cast together. Just undo the straps and you can take it off in pieces. Makes it so much easier to take care of the patient."
Ken couldn't deny the fact that she seemed to know what she was talking about. "Great then!"
"Ken!" Omi ran in breathlessly. "Oh, hi!"
"Omi, this is Yazaki Reina. She's Ran's new nurse. That is Omi."
She smiled, nodding to the blond.
"Hi!" Omi grinned, then looked to Ken. "Sorry, but we really, really need help in the shop!"
"Oh, yeah…sure!"
Omi smiled once again and ran away.
"Are you two going to be ok?"
"No problems!" the nurse said, smiling.
"Koi?"
"I'm fine."
"Ok, I'll be back up in a little bit. I love you." Ken bent down, planting a soft kiss on Ran's lips.
"Love you too", Ran smiled up at Ken
"Have fun!" the nurse said, watching as he walked out of the room. She frowned for a moment, then looked back to Ran. "I suppose we need to get to know one another…"
"I don't want to know you", the redhead frowned. "I don't even want you here."
"I wish you wouldn't say those things", nurse Yazaki said, apparently wounded by Ran's remarks. She looked at him for a moment, then smiled. You know, you remind me a lot of my son."
"You have a son?", Ran asked, not really caring.
The nurse nodded. "He's the same age as you, too. I know it would break my heart if he'd done what you did. I hate to think how your poor parents-"
"My parents are DEAD!" Ran snapped. "Didn't Kritiker tell you anything about me? Other than the fact that I tried to kill myself?"
"No...they didn't. G-gomen." The nurse looked deep into Ran's eyes. "Won't you tell me?"
"No." Ran glared up at the woman. "You're standing too close. Go away."
"Ran, I'm here to help you. Won't you let me? Do it for your friends, who love you."
"Fine", Ran sighed.
"Is there anything you need now?", the nurse asked kindly.
Ran lay silent for a minute before nurse Yazaki spoke up again.
"When was the last time you had a bath?"
"I don't know", Ran muttered. "Yesterday, I guess."
"Then we'll start there", the woman decided, standing up and walking out of the room. She came back moments later with some soapy water, a washcloth and a towel.
"Only Ken is allowed to bathe me", Ran glared, his cheeks flushed.
"Is that what he said?"
"That's what I say."
"Well, Ken might not always have time", the nurse said cheerily, unfastening and removing a portion of the body cast. "Hmm...not bad", she grinned, looking over Ran's exposed torso.
"N-nani?" Ran's eyes widened at the comment.
"Nothing. I just hope these bones heal soon. Now. Let's get you cleaned up, shall we?"
~~~~~~~~~~
"Is this typical?", Aya asked, smearing her dirty hands on her apron.
"Yeah. We're usually pretty busy on Fridays", Ken answered. He then walked up to Aya, embracing the young woman. "I'm glad that you're here."
"Yes. Me, too", Aya nodded, looking away.
"What's wrong?", Ken asked, putting a hand on Aya's shoulder.
"I-I'm really happy to be living here with all of you. And I'm glad that I can help out. Most of all, I'm happy to finally be reunited with my brother. Demo...I wish it didn't take such awful circumstances to get me here. It's my fault. Ran could have died, and now he's...he's..." Interrupted by her own crying, Aya buried her head in Ken's shirt. "I'm so sorry!", she wept. "I'm sorry that I did this to him!"
"Shh..." Ken ran his fingers through Aya's hair with one hand, lightly massaging her back with the other. "You didn't do anything. How would you have known that this was going to happen? Right now, crying isn't going to do us any good. We need to be strong, and support Ran. He's not going to get better if we don't."
Looking up at Ken, Aya nodded tearfully.
"Now, let's get back to the apartment and get ourselves something to eat. I'm starved!" Ken said, rubbing his stomach.
"Hai", Aya laughed.
*
"You eaten yet?", Ken asked as he, Aya, Yoji and Omi came into the bedroom.
"No. But don't you worry about it. I've ordered us pizzas", nurse Yazaki informed him. "I'm sorry that I didn't have time to make something myself, but I was getting aquainted with my new patient here."
Ran just stared up, looking annoyed.
"Oh, that's fine. Any food is good food after the day we've had", Ken laughed.
A few minutes later, the pizza arrived, and Omi began setting places at the table.
"Is this what you do every night?"
Omi looked up at the nurse. "Yes."
"And what about Ran?"
"Well, we eat, and then Ken or Aya goes in and feeds him."
"That not right", nurse Yazaki scolded, shaking her head. "Now, I want all of you to take your chairs into the bedroom. We're going to eat with Ran tonight. Understood?"
Everyone looked at the woman, feeling a little ashamed of themselves. "Understood."
*
Ran looked a little confused as everyone came in and took a seat at his bedside. "Y-you are eating in here?"
"Well, we know you must get lonely", nurse Yazaki said kindly, holding a piece of pizza up to Ran's mouth and waiting for him to accept.
Ran kept his mouth tightly shut.
"Come on, koi", Ken urged, swallowing down some soda. "Aya and I can't feed you all the time. You're going to have to get used to the idea of having the nurse around."
Giving in with a sigh, Ran opened his mouth and took a bite, trying to put the nurse's remark from earlier out of his mind. 'Maybe she just has an unusual bedside manner', he thought, as nurse Yazaki wiped some tomato sauce off of his chin. 'And I really can't expect Ken and Aya to stop their world for me. This will be good for them.'
For awhile, life was good. Nurse Yazaki came in early every morning, making breakfast for everyobody before Aya and Omi had to go to school (high school and college, respectively) and Ken and Yoji started work. She took care of Ran as if he were her own son. It seemed that Ken and Ran's initial misgivings about her were unfounded. Then, the time finally came for Ran to get out of the body cast. Ken, Aya, Yoji, Omi and the nurse waited anxiously to see what he was capable of after all that time in bed.