At first it seemed to Touya that his Mother had forgotten the miso soup again, bubbling over the top and burning itself down into a film of charcoal. But on waking just slightly more and remembering his Mother and Father had taken a trip to France, it didn't seem too likely. He heard a low moan over on his right, and slowly sitting up, opened his eyes to the horrific scene.
The vague shape of something that might have once been a car was hardly recognizable in the charred remains on the other side of the road. Of more concern to Touya was the sight of a blood-covered Hikaru, who'd feebly managed to prop himself up against an old oak tree. Akira scrambled over to Hikaru on his hand and knees, not bothering to try to right himself.
"Shindo?!"
"Oh, Touya…" Hikaru's eyes opened a bit, regarding Akira dazedly.
"Are you alight?" Touya leaned in to inspect the source of the blood. It was a small cut, but deep, just under the hairline. One side of Hikaru's bangs was matted with blood, but the wound seemed to have stopped flowing.
Shindo hadn't responded to his question, but was looking at him peculiarly. After a moment he let loose a peal of strange, loud laughter. It chilled Touya, not just because it was inappropriate, but because he sounded completely insane.
"Shindo…" his voice was softer, and tinged with fear for the first time.
"Sorry, Touya. I was…It was…I couldn't…" Hikaru was looking towards the burnt out wreck on the other side of the road.
"The driver was—"
"Probably dead as soon as we hit. It's too bad I couldn't stop it from burning. I…just couldn't anymore…" Hikaru looked back to Akira, his eyes shimmered on the verge of tears.
Touya couldn't have stopped himself if he'd wanted to. He threw himself on top of Hikaru, wrapping his arms around him tightly. For a moment everything was fine, until Akira shifted slightly, jarring Hikaru's left leg. Hikaru screamed loudly, but quickly buried his face on Touya's shoulder. The muffled sound ceased and Touya gently let go and moved back—down to Shindo's feet. He carefully eased up the baggy garment, exposing the swollen purple flesh beneath.
"Oh God Hikaru! How did you get me out? If it's like this—"
"I couldn't really feel anything at the time. I just had to get out. You were there and I—"
"Carried me out with a broken leg?!"
There were already tears of pain in the corners of Hikaru's eyes as he started to shake, and more streamed down his face. He began that strange, haunting laugh again mixed with the tears.
"Shindo, you're scaring me…"
The laughing stopped. "I didn't think you were going to wake up," he said in a trembling whisper. He pointed over near where Touya had been laying. It was Touya's black leather travel bag he'd had with him in the car. "You wouldn't let go of it. Part of the strap was caught on the front seat—I finally got it loose and pulled you out. When I got across the road I felt your body relax—you dropped it and I put you down. But then you wouldn't move and you didn't hear me. You were so cold…" he started to sob softly—the tears had never stopped.
"He thought I was dead. I don't have a single scratch on me and he probably hurt himself more trying to help me. Useless…I've been completely useless."