I rushed this! I had to get it done before Christmas, but I ended up typing
it exactly 4 hours till midnight. Damn! So anyway, this is the Christmas
Special for my MitKosh pairing! Oh viva la MitKosh! By the way, big jump!
Very big jump! This is taking to long to end, so big jump!
Merry Christmas everyone!
TO HOLD ON 9
Change. It was one word to describe them - all of them. Mitsui was staring at a photograph on his study table in his room. It was in an old plastic frame, a cheap imitation of wood. On the picture was himself, Sendoh beside him, while Koshino and Miyagi were kneeling in front of them. There were red autumn leaves around them and they were all smiling. Where had all that innocent smile gone, Mitsui wondered. Five years wasn't that long. It just went by so fast that it feels it was only yesterday when Koshino, Miyagi and Sendoh joined him in his apartment to study in university. Five years, really, it didn't feel like five years. Not to Mitsui at least.
Placing the picture back, he pulled his glasses off and threw it on top of the open Accounting text book in front of him, lifting a hand up to his face. He had turned twenty-three seven months ago, and still it felt as if he was still seventeen, the very age he plunged in to the world of higher studies. He had put on some weight and now looked a lot normal than he did on his first year of college. He was still thin, but thin in a very attractive manner. He managed to maintain his short hair; cutting off those annoying long raven locks that made him look like a girl, despite the masculine cut of his face. He had grown two inches more, and saw the world from a different perspective. At the beginning, he thought that the world was one crazy place and that all that mattered was fun and basketball, and everything else in between. But now, reality had come hitting him full force on the face. He now knew that he was lucky to even make it this far. He now knew that fun was good till a certain level, and that money and power ruled the world. Like the saying says, 'the strong survives and weak dies'. He was no weakling, because otherwise he would have quit a long time ago.
The world was a selfish place to be in, and one had to fight for his own needs. Mitsui was still fighting for it. His first year may have been hell, but from his second year onwards, it was worst. His aunt had left for Europe, transferring his allowance for the whole one year in to his investor's account, and every new school year, she would send him money. Somehow, his professors found out that he studied in the day and worked in the evening. Yes, he managed to squeeze in work in between his heavy studies. It was difficult in the beginning but he made it through, having to work in the flower shop in the afternoon after classes and studying after that. It wasted precious time, but he needed the money. His professors did not like his frank attitude and his silence, along with his serious and penetrating midnight eyes that seemed to be challenging them and irking them. Ever since their gain of knowledge on Mitsui's life, they've been pushing him down. Mitsui did not know how many times he had gone to Aya or Yoji, crying over his pathetic life. It had been hell for him that even at the sheer memory of it made him shed tears. Crying was his way out. It made him feel better. He had barely managed to keep his grades on a steady 85+, just barely. Dr. Hajime had moved to Tokyo since he got a bigger job and pay offer, and often gave him help in financial manners and did his round of check up every four months on Mitsui's knee. The doctor had been shocked at Mitsui's physical change, that he did not recognize him, if it weren't for the scar on his chin. Mitsui was actually glad the doctor was somewhere nearby. It somehow gave him peace
Feeling tired, he stood up and headed out of his bedroom. Miyagi and Sendoh were engaged. Mitsui found that out last year, when they announced it to him and Koshino. Their wedding, apparently, would be the day right after graduation. Sendoh had matured, and looked more serious now than he did five years ago. He still smiled, but something about his carefree aura changed, since he too, saw the world from a new angle now. To him, it was a bittersweet place to be living in, since the reality of his future not lying with basketball alone smacked him hard. It had been painful to accept, even for Miyagi, but now it did not matter. He was doing well in his IT course, and still played for the university's team, so he got both what he loved and what he needed. Sendoh gained a few centimeters in height, and now grew his hair, keeping the top spiked while a tiny ponytail dangled by the nape of his neck. He wore specs now, since being in front of the computer 24/7 learning codes and lecture notes had ruined his eyesight. The glasses suited him, and it made him look older than his age, though he was only twenty-two and was in his final year. It was only a four-year course. He and Miyagi and Koshino would be graduating in the same year as Mitsui.
Miyagi changed slightly. He was still the cheeky sophomore Mitsui fought with at the roof of Shohoku High, and was still the naïve type. He had lost his piercing, since he became allergic for some reason that he could not wear earrings anymore. He still looked the same, but grew much taller. He was now six foot three instead of six foot. He was happy about the change, and was proud of it as well. He was an average student in class and kept his grades in the lines of 80's. His weight dropped, and according to Sendoh, it made him look a lot sexier. Mitsui had ignored that comment when they were once engaged in a conversation on a rainy night some time in the years that passed. Miyagi was Miyagi, and he and Mitsui got along fine, but they kept distance.
Mitsui sat in the living room, when he noticed an envelope on the coffee table. Curious, he took it and saw that it was addressed to no one. He opened it and found several old crumpled yen bills, held together by a rubber band, a small piece of paper attached with the money reading 'Water, Light and Electricity'. Mitsui felt anger rise in him. That handwriting belonged to no one else but Hiroaki Koshino. He angrily slammed the envelope back on the coffee table, standing up and heading for the kitchen, taking out a can of beer and making his way to the living room window. He took a long drag from the can of beer he had in his hand. It was not the first time Koshino did that, in fact he did it every month for the past five years.
Five years ago, he thought he knew everything he had to know about Koshino. He was wrong. Ever since Koshino stepped in to his apartment for study purposes, their so-called friendship had taken another twist and plunged in to another world. Koshino disappeared every night. Mitsui could not recall one day in which Koshino did not even stay home. He was never there for Christmas, or New Year, or any other holidays in the middle of the year. He never even talked when he was home, even when he did, he did so half- heartedly and kept it mono syllabic, and made sure that he did not say anything personal. Mitsui did not know him anymore. He still loved him secretly. That kiss he felt five years ago still did wonders to him, and he was amazed with himself to even feel like that, taking a close look at their current relationship. It was next to nothing.
Koshino had grown deathingly thin, but he was still attractive. He had changed his hairstyle in to something like Aya's when Mitsui first met him. Aya now had longer hair that he tied back in to a ponytail, where as Koshino had two raven ear tails framing his face. It made him look cute, sexy and a bit more feminine. His grades were in the lines of 85-95. He usually looked worn out now, a lot paler than the living. Mitsui could no longer talk to him without struggling to find the right words. He was gone by eight in the morning and was back by three in the next morning. Miyagi and Sendoh had tried speaking to him once and never tried again, since Koshino had lashed out with anger and words that none of them had ever thought he was capable of. This happened on New Year three years ago, and nobody said anything after that. Koshino worked in the flower shop in the morning of Saturdays and Sundays, and like Mitsui, he got paid.
Mitsui sighed. It was their last year to be in the world of papers and books and endless days of no sleep and fatigue. He wanted it to be all right. He wanted it to be just like before. Forget about what happened in the middle, it was the present that mattered. He glanced at the clock, and it was one in the morning. Koshino was not home, and Sendoh and Miyagi had long ago gone to bed. It was exactly three days to Christmas. He was on his winter break, but that did not mean he would stop studying. Talking to Sendoh and Miyagi would be okay, Koshino would be difficult. He cared and he was going to make sure that Koshino saw that.
Resolution starts tomorrow.
*
Koshino woke up the next morning and headed for the kitchen for something to eat. It was exactly seven thirty and he had half an hour to get ready and go to the flower shop to work on his morning shift. He was tired and did not get a wink of sleep. He had arrived four hours ago, his body aching and his head still spinning. He grabbed two pills of aspirins from the bottle on his bedside table and swallowed them dry. He groaned as he made his way to the bathroom, took a long hot shower and changed in to jeans and a gray turtleneck.
When he entered the kitchen, he was surprised to find a cup of steaming coffee waiting for him, a long with two pieces of buttered toast beside it. What surprised him more was the presence of just one white rose. He did not know what to feel. It was the very first time he ever got a flower that was just meant for him alone and for no reason at all. With a nonchalant shrug, he took the rose and placed it in to one of his favorite novels back in his room and closed the page, the white blossom sticking out from the book. He headed back and ate his breakfast; glad that whoever made it - Sendoh, Miyagi or Mitsui - left it for him. As soon as he was done, it was exactly eight o'clock. He headed for the flower shop and met Aya and Ken just in time for opening. They exchanged a polite greeting and the shop opened.
Koshino immediately began to work on Christmas orders handed to him by Ken, who gave Aya an identical paper and kept one for himself. It was more than ten big orders and Koshino knew that he would be on his feet without seating for the next several hours. He knew that the mob of fan girls would come attacking them an hour later. He didn't really give a damn, but one could use peace once in a while. Omi and Yoji would be managing the afternoon shift with Mitsui, who had left their apartment in the early hours of the morning to go to the library to read something, whereas Sendoh and Miyagi had hit the malls for shopping.
Just as Koshino predicted, the mob of fan girls came attacking them once nine o'clock chimed. He had finished two arrangements already and Ken was getting ready to get them delivered. Koshino had managed to keep a pleasant attitude towards the girls who bought little bouquets for friends or loved ones. It was hard at the beginning but once twelve came, everything was peaceful again. Only he and Aya were left in the shop, fixing arrangements. Koshino was handling a white rose, snipping off the huge thorns before placing it amongst the yellow and red roses in front of him. He was not paying attention when he pricked his finger with one of the thorns, immediately drawing blood. He gave out a hiss, and that caught Aya's attention. Aya gave him an alcohol cotton swab.
"Thank you." Koshino said politely.
Aya nodded. "Be careful. White roses are far more thorny than the other roses." Aya said, and attended to his arrangement. "Do you know the meaning of the white rose, Koshino?"
Curious, Koshino looked at Aya, across from his arrangement. "No."
"Each flower is an emotion portrayed by the giver. A white rose signifies unrequited love or silent pain. It depends on the giver. It could mean either one or a combination of both." Aya picked up a white rose and placed it in his arrangement, tying the edge with a light blue ribbon, holding the patterned plastic together. "No matter how beautiful the white rose is, it signifies something unhappy. That's why it has more thorns than other roses. Unrequited love and silent pain are not happy things, right Koshino?" Koshino remained rooted to the spot. He did not know what to think. A white rose, it meant something to him now.
"Yes, Aya-san." Koshino said, nodding. "You are right."
Aya said nothing after that, and continued doing his set of orders.
An hour past and it was time for the afternoon shift. Mitsui walked in to the flower shop, dusting the white snow from his coat. "Hello!" He greeted and hung his coat inside the closet hanger in the backroom. "So? What do I do?"
"You're energetic today." Aya said, taking off his apron. "Here. Finish it off." He handed Mitsui a list of orders. Just then, Omi and Yoji walked in as well, both carrying colored bags that they hid in the back room, before joining Mitsui.
Koshino and Mitsui's gaze met. Mitsui smiled at him, and approached him. "We're having Christmas dinner on the evening of the twenty-fourth. It's our final year." Mitsui shrugged, shoving his hands deep in to his pockets. "So I thought that perhaps we should all get together." Mitsui sighed. "I wish everything would go back to the way it was before. You know? When all of us were close? It just feels so different now."
Koshino felt his chest constrict. The white rose signifies silent pain. Mitsui was hurting inside from all the change. Could it be him? "I don't know. I'm busy." He watched the flash of pain in Mitsui's eyes, who forced a smile.
"Do try, okay, Koshino?" Mitsui turned around and headed for the table where Aya was working on. Aya had left with Ken to go shopping.
Koshino spotted a yellow rose. He did not know what it meant, but took it. He tapped Mitsui on the shoulder and handed it to him. "Merry Christmas, sempai."
Without another word, he left. There was something he needed to do.
*
Mitsui kept darting his eyes towards the yellow rose that Koshino gave him. He could not hide the smile that came to his face whenever his eyes fell upon it. It was funny how Koshino's innocent or unintended actions such as these had such an impact on him. He had been thinking about him ever since he entered the shop. He had gone to the library at quarter to seven to finish off his research. By ten, he hit the malls, searching for appropriate gifts for his friends, including the boys of the flower shop. He managed to buy decent but not very expensive gifts. He had spotted nice silk shirts, and bought Yoji a dark violet one, Aya a black one and Ken a maroon one and Omi a nice hat. As for Miyagi, he got him a nice bathrobe; Sendoh a nice set of pajamas and Koshino a sky blue knitted turtleneck - the most expensive gift of all. He always did make Koshino special.
Yoji caught him staring at the yellow rose. "Mit-chan?" Mitsui scowled at the nickname. Yoji never really dropped it, knowing that it annoyed Mitsui and made him look more adorable. "Did you know that every flower has a meaning?"
"It does?" Mitsui asked, forgetting about the nickname. "I thought it all meant good will, like love or happiness, or even friendship. But every flower?"
"Oh yes!" Yoji said, nodding as he picked up a dark colored iris. "For example, this iris symbolizes lies. It looks beautiful, true, but it's meaning is not. Take the yellow rose as another example." Yoji gestured to the rose Koshino had given him that was lying on the counter by the cashier, Mitsui turned to look at it, a pot of geraniums in his arms. "One would think that it means happiness or maybe luck or something like that. But it doesn't. A yellow rose signifies hidden truth and unspoken apologies."
Mitsui's grip on the pot slipped, the pot crashing on the ground in an unceremonious heap, the loud crash bringing silence. Mitsui stood still, rooted to that very spot. Omi had given out a yelp, and dashed to get the broom and an empty bag. Mitsui shook his head, and forced himself to reality. "Sorry." He said, bending down to pick up the remains of the plant. "It slipped."
"Mit-chan." Yoji said seriously, gaining Mitsui's attention. "When a pot of plant falls, and the pot is broken in to three pieces, it means misfortune." Yoji looked at the pot that lay in front of Mitsui. "Your pot is in three pieces. It's a bad omen."
Mitsui suddenly felt numb.
*
Evening fell, and it was Mitsui's turn to make dinner. They had taken the time to divide the weeks during holidays such as Christmas to each person in making dinner. Lunch and breakfast was always done outside, and nobody really ate much in those two meals of the day. Dinner was probably the only thing that brought them together, despite their separate ways.
It was already eleven by the time Mitsui had finished cooking. He had forgotten that it was his turn and if Miyagi hadn't knocked on his bedroom - mind you, he was very pissed when Miyagi had interrupted his studying time - he would have forgotten about dinner completely. So, as much as he hated cooking, Mitsui did it anyway. He simply made some baked pasta and some chicken and served them with cold beer. Sendoh and Miyagi said nothing, and when it became very awkward, Sendoh broke the silence.
"So any plans for Christmas?" He gave everyone a smile.
Mitsui took the opportunity to tell them about his 'resolution'. "Maybe we should all have Christmas dinner together on the evening before Chrismas. You know, like tradition? By midnight, we can exchange our gifts, if any!" He gave them a joking look, and they all chuckled. "It would be a good change." Mitsui stared at his glass of beer. "It's just that -" He closed his eyes for a while. "We are never together anymore."
Silence fell again. "That's a brilliant idea, Mitsui-san!" Miyagi said, grinning from ear to ear. Obviously, he too must have felt the same. Even though he had a lover and was getting married soon, having friends and being with them is a totally different matter all together. "Then on Christmas morning, all four of us can go and play basketball! It would be great fun!"
"I agree, love!" Sendoh said, nodding with his smile getting brighter by each passing millisecond. "We can go ice skating after that!"
"And hit the carnival!" Mitsui felt his heart lightening and quickening with excitement. It all sounded too good.
Dinner was forgotten as the three got engaged in to a long conversation of the things they could do together. It sounded endless, and never have they spoken together with such ease and no trouble of having to look for the right words. It felt as if they were all in high school again. In between their never-ending conversation, they ate ice cream and drank warm cocoa drinks. Cookies came in between and then chips. Time went by so quickly, that none of them knew. They just treasured their moment with each other as equal young men, tossing away all differences and their separate paths.
"Does Koshino know all this?" Sendoh suddenly asked. Miyagi turned to look at Mitsui, and both waited for his reply.
Mitsui did not dare meet their eyes. He turned to look at a half-empty packet of Doritos. "No. Not like the way we discussed it."
"Why didn't you tell him?" Miyagi asked, noticing Mitsui discomfort and the faraway look in his midnight eyes.
"How could I?" Mitsui asked. "He's so -" Mitsui quickly bit his lower lip to prevent any wrong words from coming out of his mouth.
"He's so what, Mitsui-san?" Miyagi pressed on. Sendoh's hand gently landed on Miyagi's leg, an indication that he must not ask anymore.
"He's so close, yet so far." Mitsui said, leaving it to that.
"I understand." Sendoh said, obviously noticing the drastic change Koshino faced. He was his best friend in high school, but only till high school. Sendoh did not know the stranger now called Koshino Hiroaki. None of them did anymore. "We'll tell him together. Wouldn't that be better?"
Mitsui looked up and gave Sendoh a sincere smile. "That would be good."
"Oh my gosh! It's two already? We we're talking for that long?" Miyagi exclaimed, his eyes landing on the kitchen clock.
"It didn't fell long at all!" Sendoh said, smiling and snatching the bag of Doritos. "Hey, I was just thinking. We discussed on what to do for Christmas. But this place needs the Christmas feeling. We haven't got a tree yet!"
"There's one in my room. Packed in a box that is." Mitsui said. "We can use that!"
"And candy canes and stockings!" Miyagi said happily, eyes shining. "Oh it would be like home!"
Again, the three launched in to another long exciting conversation. They would cook for Christmas, all of them splitting the courses of the meal. Miyagi said that he would the appetizers, while Mitsui handled the dessert and Sendoh the main course. They debated between meat and seafood, and of course, since Sendoh was a specialist with seafood, they would have that. It sounded strange, but the idea was good. Mitsui knew how to make different flavored pies and cakes, so he would just make assorted ones. Miyagi refused to say what he would make, but did say that it would be nice. He was not much of a cook. They all agreed in baking Christmas cookies tomorrow. Studying will be put off for the next five days at least. Their minds needed the time off, so spending it together like the family way would be the best thing. The house needed cleaning up and decorating anyway, and what better way is there to accomplish them than doing it together and having fun with each other's presence?
"Don' forget the mistletoes!" Sendoh said, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Nobody gets to eat the cookies of the tree!" Mitsui warned. "We do that after breakfast!"
"I will make breakfast on Christmas morning!" Miyagi said, raising his hand up to emphasize his point.
"Oh you sure will! I know your-" Sendoh was cut off his sentence when a loud thump was heard. "What was that?"
"Someone upstairs?" Miyagi suggested, though the sound irked him.
"Nobody is above us, you moron!" Mitsui said annoyed. He suddenly felt very uncomfortable. He looked behind him. "It came from outside."
"It must be the guys next door moving something heavy. It's Christmas. They must be trying to sneak in a big present or something." Miyagi said, shrugging, pushing away the tension in the air.
"I don't know." Mitsui said. They sat in silence for a few minutes, before Mitsui's nagging feeling won over him. "I'll go have a look."
The two nodded as Mitsui stood up and headed for the door. He opened it and silence met him. He stepped out when a bloody hand zoomed in front of him and landed on his shoulder. Mitsui gave out a terrified gasp. He stumbled out in the open, staggering back in to the silent hallway of their apartment away from the door.
What greeted him was the sight of a very blue young man. His clothes were bloodied, but his fingers and bare toes, along with his lips and eyes were blue and numb from cold. He was dirty, sticky and wet from the snow outsides, all this mixing with blood from wounds hidden underneath crumpled and undone clothes. He was beyond recognizable. He tried to speak, but not words came out of the parted blue lips. Mitsui was covered in blood from his front. His eyes were wide in fear. He was scared, and never had this creepy fear bubbled up inside him. His heart raced, his mind blank and his breathing was rapid. The eyes of the young man in front of him rolled back, as he collapsed on Mitsui. The walls of their hallways were smeared with blood, obviously from the man's hands that used it as a support to remain standing. There was a huge puddle of blood by the stairs, in which he must have fallen, hence the loud thump they all heart. There were drops of blood that trailed from the puddle up till Mitsui's standing point, and there was a slow growing puddle around them at that current second.
Mitsui shut his eyes tight and as loud as he can, screamed. His scream alerted everyone in their building - basically his two companions and the guys from the flower shop. Miyagi took a step back and fainted at the sight. Sendoh remained frozen. The guys next door threw their doors open and gasped at the sight. Mitsui began to shake his head; his limbs refusing to cooperate and did not move.
"Oh god! Oh god!" Mitsui screamed louder. "No! No!" He gave out loud desperate cries for the body on top of him to be lifted. "Koshino! No! No! Oh god! No!" Mitsui's voice was already fading from his loud screams. The sight of Koshino scared him so much that he was going crazy. "
Aya and Yoji, the ones with strong minds immediately snapped back to reality and picked up the body of Koshino and quickly carried it to his bedroom. Sendoh took Miyagi once the body was out of his range of sight and laid the unconscious man on the couch of their home. Ken rushed to get some sedatives, since Mitsui was literally tearing his hair out. Omi had gone to clean the blood off their stairs and walls before anyone got suspicious.
"Mitsui! Calm down!" Ken hissed, taking out a syringe with clear liquid. "Hold still!" He hissed.
Sendoh appeared and held Mitsui from behind, who immediately began to kick and punch, struggling like a wild and angry in the arms of the taller boy. Mitsui kicked in every direction, his bare and now bloodied feet landed on Ken's stomach, causing the young man to double back in pain and drop the syringe in to the puddle of blood.
"Damnit!" Sendoh cursed. "Mitsui-san, stop it!" He hissed, but Mitsui would not hear any of it. His pupils were dilated and all he saw was blood and Koshino. Mitsui became more hysteric when the sight of Koshino plagued his mind.
Aya appeared at the doorway and with a side-hand chop, knocked Mitsui out, his figure slumping in Sendoh's arm. "Come. Help me carry him." Aya coldly said, but his voice hid worries. Sendoh nodded and helped Aya carry Mitsui's unconscious form next door. Aya turned the lights on in his bedroom, and stripped Mitsui off his clothes. "Do you know any doctor that can come in this late hour?" Aya asked, as he took out a damp white towel and cleaned Mitsui's face from the foreign blood that clung on to it.
Sendoh pondered. "Mitsui goes to this orthopedic to get his knee checked all the time." Sendoh suddenly said. He remembered seeing Dr. Hajime once.
"Good!" Aya said, and wiped the blood off Mitsui's feet and arms. "Get his phone number."
Sendoh nodded and rushed out to look for it in Mitsui's phonebook. He found the number easily and came out again, ignoring Ken who was carrying an armful of bloody towels from Koshino's bedroom. He gave it to Aya who had Mitsui dressed in a robe and his boxers only and tucked in to his very own bed. Aya took the cordless phone on his bedside table and punched the number in. Sendoh watched Mitsui asleep, no longer struggling. It was a shock to him. He never knew that Mitsui could act like that. Aya's voice brought him back from his thoughts.
"A life of another is at stake! If you know what's best for you, you will come here right now with proper utensils!" Dr. Hajime was obviously arguing. "This is important! We can't bring him to the hospital! Just come! Here's the address!" Aya gave him the address. "Do it fast!" Aya stopped as the other side spoke. "You're Mitsui's doctor aren't you? Then you know what's good for him and his friends. So come here! Now!" Aya hung up. "Bring Miyagi here. You three stay here, until everything is fixed. Go on!"
Once again, Sendoh left the florist's apartment and fetched his unconscious lover. When he returned, Aya had two mats lain on the floor beside the bed, along with pillows and blankets. There was no need for words. Sendoh lay Miyagi on one side of the mat and covered him the blanket. He then closed the door of the room, leaving the two unconscious friend and lover in their dreamless sleep. He went in to the hallway and helped Omi clean the blood. He was not yet ready to see the state of his best friend.
Not just yet.
*
Dr. Hajime and two nurses came ten minutes later. Aya led him to Koshino's best friend and the doctor was baffled. He was paralyzed for a moment and did not know what to do. One of the nurse was a petite young - nurse Aori Umeda - woman with shoulder length dark hair and a thin frame, her brown eyes hidden behind specs. The other was a slightly taller woman, - nurse Yume Hotaru - who was heavy boned, had boyish cut brown hair and serious black eyes.
"Fucking hell, don't just stand there!" Yoji snapped, anger visible in his green eyes.
"Right!" Dr. Hajime dropped his black brief case on the table of Koshino's room and opened it, starting to sort out his things. "I need towels. Get me all the towels you have. Make it quick! Is there no heater here? It's freezing!" He took pulled on gloves. "I need more light! Close the curtains!" Yume drew the curtains. "I need this room disinfected! Especially around his body!" Aori opened another briefcase that she was carrying and took out a spray of disinfectant, quickly and heavily spraying the small room with the entire can. The smell of hospital filtrated the room.
Aya appeared with all sources of light he could find, from emergency lights to camping flashlights. He brought in lamps and took their tops off, leaving only the light bulb within to be lit. The room was very bright by the time Aya had all the lights brought in. Aori, Yume and Dr. Hajime were now busy cutting off Koshino's clothes, in a very patient and slow manner, so as to avoid making his wounds worse. Yoji appeared a few minutes later, carrying an armful of towels in a range of different colors. He rushed out again and came back a few seconds later with another armful of towels.
"Okay! Now I need hot water." Yoji and Aya rushed out to get hot water. They returned minutes later with two bucket full of water. "I need two empty basins! If you have extra cotton, please bring them. Other wise find me some! What I have will not be enough! I need bandages and rubbing alcohol!"
"Didn't you come prepared?" Aya hissed.
"If you told me that this was the situation, I would have! But you did not!" Dr. Hajime said in silent annoyance.
Aya rushed out to find the things Dr. Hajime asked for. He found none. He summoned Sendoh and handed him a handful of yen bills. "Go to the twenty- four hour drugstore and buy as much cotton, bandages and rubbing alcohol as you can. Take Ken with you to help you carry the things. Hurry!"
Sendoh nodded and rushed out of their building with Ken. Aya helped Omi continue scrubbing the stairs and walls clean from the blood and dirt. Yoji remained by the Doctor's side, who was now examining Koshino's body. "His left wrist is broken, along with three of its fingers. His right hand is sprained. He has five fractured ribs, a broken ankle and his two broken toes. There is a crack on his scapula, and cuts on his head, wrists, thighs and chest. His back is bruised completely. His lips were split, along with his temples and neck. Entire face is swollen and bruised. His anus is split open, and his penis is swollen and cut. His testicles needs stitches, since it has -" Dr. Hajime examined Koshino's anatomy and his lips thinned. "Bite marks." Yoji winced, trying to control his anger. Who could have done this to Koshino? "His entire body reeks with semen." He looked up at Yume and Aori. "Clean up his body, avoid the cuts."
The two nurses took the towels and dipped them in to the hot water and with slow and gentle movements, but fast and accurate, they began to clean Koshino's body, wiping off the white and sticky fluid of unknown human beings and tossing the used towel in to a pile beside the bed once it was already covered and soaking in blood. The process took half an hour and by then, Ken came in to the room with two big bags of doctor's needs.
"Sendoh is outside. He does not want to come in." He mumbled at Yoji and left to help Sendoh clean their building. Yoji left the room. He was no longer needed.
Dr. Hajime took his syringe and filled it with antibiotics, injecting Koshino in every cut and wound on his thin body. That done, started with his head. He asked one of the nurses to turn Koshino's body to his side and the other to wipe his head with a wet towel to get rid of the dirt. He took out a cotton ball soaked in alcohol from the hospital and swabbed it over the open cut on the side of his head. He then stitched it closed and bandaged it. He then proceeded to do the same on Koshino's face. It was a ritual, wiping the blood and semen off, disinfecting it with alcohol, the bruises and cuts more visible than ever. Koshino's entire face was covered in white bandage by the time Dr. Hajime was done with it. He moved on to his neck, and cleaned the cuts, applied some ointment that he brought from the hospital and wrapped the thin neck in bandages. Next was his chest, which had deep welts on what looked like - whip and heel marks. The flesh was sunken and dark in color. Dr. Hajime had winced at the sight, but said nothing. He nursed the deep cuts and stitched them, later on attending to the light ones, and then bandaged them. Koshino's wrists came next, and they were cleaned and stitched closed, and attached to it was a metal rod, that held it straight in order for the bone to heal. It would have to do for now, until Dr. Hajime returns with proper materials.
He fixed up Koshino's arms and hands, and cleaned his back, putting some ointment on the deep and colorful bruises that painted the youth's back. Next came the complicated task. He signaled the nurse to lift Koshino's legs up a bit, as he cleaned his torn entrance with disinfectant. Even though Koshino was asleep, he had injected him with anesthesia. There was a very small possibility that he might wake up, but Dr. Hajime was not taking any chances. He stitched the torn tissue together and cleaned it once more. He did the same to his penis and testicles, bandaging the stitches. Once the anatomy was done, the task was much lighter. He was extra careful with Koshino's privates since it was the most damaged part of all. He had done the same ritual on his legs, extra careful on his broken ankle.
Five hours later, Dr. Hajime was done. He came out of the room, his two nurses behind him. "It's all right." He said, massaging his temples. "I'll have to come back tomorrow with the proper things. I fixed him up the best I can."
Ken and Omi went inside and cleaned the room, getting rid of the bloodied towels and buckets of crimson colored water that were used. They returned back in once they discarded those things and went back to cleaning. Dr. Hajime was giving Aya and Yoji the things to do during his absence till the next evening.
The five boys cleaned the apartment, and then left. Sendoh then took the opportunity to look at Koshino and wish that he hadn't.
Koshino was literally in bandages. Even if his skin were exposed, he would only see either a welt or a very ugly bruise. The sight of him brought tears to his eyes. He could not bear to even look. He clenched his fists, dipping his head.
"Why?" He mumbled, gritting his teeth. "Why did you do this Koshino? Why?"
Now he knew why Koshino changed. Sendoh was just thinking on how Mitsui was going to take it. If the sight of Koshino drove him mad, what would happen to him if he found out the cause behind it all? Sendoh could only cover his mouth and sink on his knees, sobbing lightly. Yoji came and placed a hand on Sendoh's shoulders, as he cried. Not out of pity, but out of friend ship loss and helplessness.
Why was no longer a question.
TBC
I know we are supposed to be happy during Christmas, but this is going on for too long. I had to bring up this scene, and I can't keep on writing about every year in two chapters. It will sound clichéd. More details, more excitement, and more drama later. Till next time!
Merry Christmas everyone!
TO HOLD ON 9
Change. It was one word to describe them - all of them. Mitsui was staring at a photograph on his study table in his room. It was in an old plastic frame, a cheap imitation of wood. On the picture was himself, Sendoh beside him, while Koshino and Miyagi were kneeling in front of them. There were red autumn leaves around them and they were all smiling. Where had all that innocent smile gone, Mitsui wondered. Five years wasn't that long. It just went by so fast that it feels it was only yesterday when Koshino, Miyagi and Sendoh joined him in his apartment to study in university. Five years, really, it didn't feel like five years. Not to Mitsui at least.
Placing the picture back, he pulled his glasses off and threw it on top of the open Accounting text book in front of him, lifting a hand up to his face. He had turned twenty-three seven months ago, and still it felt as if he was still seventeen, the very age he plunged in to the world of higher studies. He had put on some weight and now looked a lot normal than he did on his first year of college. He was still thin, but thin in a very attractive manner. He managed to maintain his short hair; cutting off those annoying long raven locks that made him look like a girl, despite the masculine cut of his face. He had grown two inches more, and saw the world from a different perspective. At the beginning, he thought that the world was one crazy place and that all that mattered was fun and basketball, and everything else in between. But now, reality had come hitting him full force on the face. He now knew that he was lucky to even make it this far. He now knew that fun was good till a certain level, and that money and power ruled the world. Like the saying says, 'the strong survives and weak dies'. He was no weakling, because otherwise he would have quit a long time ago.
The world was a selfish place to be in, and one had to fight for his own needs. Mitsui was still fighting for it. His first year may have been hell, but from his second year onwards, it was worst. His aunt had left for Europe, transferring his allowance for the whole one year in to his investor's account, and every new school year, she would send him money. Somehow, his professors found out that he studied in the day and worked in the evening. Yes, he managed to squeeze in work in between his heavy studies. It was difficult in the beginning but he made it through, having to work in the flower shop in the afternoon after classes and studying after that. It wasted precious time, but he needed the money. His professors did not like his frank attitude and his silence, along with his serious and penetrating midnight eyes that seemed to be challenging them and irking them. Ever since their gain of knowledge on Mitsui's life, they've been pushing him down. Mitsui did not know how many times he had gone to Aya or Yoji, crying over his pathetic life. It had been hell for him that even at the sheer memory of it made him shed tears. Crying was his way out. It made him feel better. He had barely managed to keep his grades on a steady 85+, just barely. Dr. Hajime had moved to Tokyo since he got a bigger job and pay offer, and often gave him help in financial manners and did his round of check up every four months on Mitsui's knee. The doctor had been shocked at Mitsui's physical change, that he did not recognize him, if it weren't for the scar on his chin. Mitsui was actually glad the doctor was somewhere nearby. It somehow gave him peace
Feeling tired, he stood up and headed out of his bedroom. Miyagi and Sendoh were engaged. Mitsui found that out last year, when they announced it to him and Koshino. Their wedding, apparently, would be the day right after graduation. Sendoh had matured, and looked more serious now than he did five years ago. He still smiled, but something about his carefree aura changed, since he too, saw the world from a new angle now. To him, it was a bittersweet place to be living in, since the reality of his future not lying with basketball alone smacked him hard. It had been painful to accept, even for Miyagi, but now it did not matter. He was doing well in his IT course, and still played for the university's team, so he got both what he loved and what he needed. Sendoh gained a few centimeters in height, and now grew his hair, keeping the top spiked while a tiny ponytail dangled by the nape of his neck. He wore specs now, since being in front of the computer 24/7 learning codes and lecture notes had ruined his eyesight. The glasses suited him, and it made him look older than his age, though he was only twenty-two and was in his final year. It was only a four-year course. He and Miyagi and Koshino would be graduating in the same year as Mitsui.
Miyagi changed slightly. He was still the cheeky sophomore Mitsui fought with at the roof of Shohoku High, and was still the naïve type. He had lost his piercing, since he became allergic for some reason that he could not wear earrings anymore. He still looked the same, but grew much taller. He was now six foot three instead of six foot. He was happy about the change, and was proud of it as well. He was an average student in class and kept his grades in the lines of 80's. His weight dropped, and according to Sendoh, it made him look a lot sexier. Mitsui had ignored that comment when they were once engaged in a conversation on a rainy night some time in the years that passed. Miyagi was Miyagi, and he and Mitsui got along fine, but they kept distance.
Mitsui sat in the living room, when he noticed an envelope on the coffee table. Curious, he took it and saw that it was addressed to no one. He opened it and found several old crumpled yen bills, held together by a rubber band, a small piece of paper attached with the money reading 'Water, Light and Electricity'. Mitsui felt anger rise in him. That handwriting belonged to no one else but Hiroaki Koshino. He angrily slammed the envelope back on the coffee table, standing up and heading for the kitchen, taking out a can of beer and making his way to the living room window. He took a long drag from the can of beer he had in his hand. It was not the first time Koshino did that, in fact he did it every month for the past five years.
Five years ago, he thought he knew everything he had to know about Koshino. He was wrong. Ever since Koshino stepped in to his apartment for study purposes, their so-called friendship had taken another twist and plunged in to another world. Koshino disappeared every night. Mitsui could not recall one day in which Koshino did not even stay home. He was never there for Christmas, or New Year, or any other holidays in the middle of the year. He never even talked when he was home, even when he did, he did so half- heartedly and kept it mono syllabic, and made sure that he did not say anything personal. Mitsui did not know him anymore. He still loved him secretly. That kiss he felt five years ago still did wonders to him, and he was amazed with himself to even feel like that, taking a close look at their current relationship. It was next to nothing.
Koshino had grown deathingly thin, but he was still attractive. He had changed his hairstyle in to something like Aya's when Mitsui first met him. Aya now had longer hair that he tied back in to a ponytail, where as Koshino had two raven ear tails framing his face. It made him look cute, sexy and a bit more feminine. His grades were in the lines of 85-95. He usually looked worn out now, a lot paler than the living. Mitsui could no longer talk to him without struggling to find the right words. He was gone by eight in the morning and was back by three in the next morning. Miyagi and Sendoh had tried speaking to him once and never tried again, since Koshino had lashed out with anger and words that none of them had ever thought he was capable of. This happened on New Year three years ago, and nobody said anything after that. Koshino worked in the flower shop in the morning of Saturdays and Sundays, and like Mitsui, he got paid.
Mitsui sighed. It was their last year to be in the world of papers and books and endless days of no sleep and fatigue. He wanted it to be all right. He wanted it to be just like before. Forget about what happened in the middle, it was the present that mattered. He glanced at the clock, and it was one in the morning. Koshino was not home, and Sendoh and Miyagi had long ago gone to bed. It was exactly three days to Christmas. He was on his winter break, but that did not mean he would stop studying. Talking to Sendoh and Miyagi would be okay, Koshino would be difficult. He cared and he was going to make sure that Koshino saw that.
Resolution starts tomorrow.
*
Koshino woke up the next morning and headed for the kitchen for something to eat. It was exactly seven thirty and he had half an hour to get ready and go to the flower shop to work on his morning shift. He was tired and did not get a wink of sleep. He had arrived four hours ago, his body aching and his head still spinning. He grabbed two pills of aspirins from the bottle on his bedside table and swallowed them dry. He groaned as he made his way to the bathroom, took a long hot shower and changed in to jeans and a gray turtleneck.
When he entered the kitchen, he was surprised to find a cup of steaming coffee waiting for him, a long with two pieces of buttered toast beside it. What surprised him more was the presence of just one white rose. He did not know what to feel. It was the very first time he ever got a flower that was just meant for him alone and for no reason at all. With a nonchalant shrug, he took the rose and placed it in to one of his favorite novels back in his room and closed the page, the white blossom sticking out from the book. He headed back and ate his breakfast; glad that whoever made it - Sendoh, Miyagi or Mitsui - left it for him. As soon as he was done, it was exactly eight o'clock. He headed for the flower shop and met Aya and Ken just in time for opening. They exchanged a polite greeting and the shop opened.
Koshino immediately began to work on Christmas orders handed to him by Ken, who gave Aya an identical paper and kept one for himself. It was more than ten big orders and Koshino knew that he would be on his feet without seating for the next several hours. He knew that the mob of fan girls would come attacking them an hour later. He didn't really give a damn, but one could use peace once in a while. Omi and Yoji would be managing the afternoon shift with Mitsui, who had left their apartment in the early hours of the morning to go to the library to read something, whereas Sendoh and Miyagi had hit the malls for shopping.
Just as Koshino predicted, the mob of fan girls came attacking them once nine o'clock chimed. He had finished two arrangements already and Ken was getting ready to get them delivered. Koshino had managed to keep a pleasant attitude towards the girls who bought little bouquets for friends or loved ones. It was hard at the beginning but once twelve came, everything was peaceful again. Only he and Aya were left in the shop, fixing arrangements. Koshino was handling a white rose, snipping off the huge thorns before placing it amongst the yellow and red roses in front of him. He was not paying attention when he pricked his finger with one of the thorns, immediately drawing blood. He gave out a hiss, and that caught Aya's attention. Aya gave him an alcohol cotton swab.
"Thank you." Koshino said politely.
Aya nodded. "Be careful. White roses are far more thorny than the other roses." Aya said, and attended to his arrangement. "Do you know the meaning of the white rose, Koshino?"
Curious, Koshino looked at Aya, across from his arrangement. "No."
"Each flower is an emotion portrayed by the giver. A white rose signifies unrequited love or silent pain. It depends on the giver. It could mean either one or a combination of both." Aya picked up a white rose and placed it in his arrangement, tying the edge with a light blue ribbon, holding the patterned plastic together. "No matter how beautiful the white rose is, it signifies something unhappy. That's why it has more thorns than other roses. Unrequited love and silent pain are not happy things, right Koshino?" Koshino remained rooted to the spot. He did not know what to think. A white rose, it meant something to him now.
"Yes, Aya-san." Koshino said, nodding. "You are right."
Aya said nothing after that, and continued doing his set of orders.
An hour past and it was time for the afternoon shift. Mitsui walked in to the flower shop, dusting the white snow from his coat. "Hello!" He greeted and hung his coat inside the closet hanger in the backroom. "So? What do I do?"
"You're energetic today." Aya said, taking off his apron. "Here. Finish it off." He handed Mitsui a list of orders. Just then, Omi and Yoji walked in as well, both carrying colored bags that they hid in the back room, before joining Mitsui.
Koshino and Mitsui's gaze met. Mitsui smiled at him, and approached him. "We're having Christmas dinner on the evening of the twenty-fourth. It's our final year." Mitsui shrugged, shoving his hands deep in to his pockets. "So I thought that perhaps we should all get together." Mitsui sighed. "I wish everything would go back to the way it was before. You know? When all of us were close? It just feels so different now."
Koshino felt his chest constrict. The white rose signifies silent pain. Mitsui was hurting inside from all the change. Could it be him? "I don't know. I'm busy." He watched the flash of pain in Mitsui's eyes, who forced a smile.
"Do try, okay, Koshino?" Mitsui turned around and headed for the table where Aya was working on. Aya had left with Ken to go shopping.
Koshino spotted a yellow rose. He did not know what it meant, but took it. He tapped Mitsui on the shoulder and handed it to him. "Merry Christmas, sempai."
Without another word, he left. There was something he needed to do.
*
Mitsui kept darting his eyes towards the yellow rose that Koshino gave him. He could not hide the smile that came to his face whenever his eyes fell upon it. It was funny how Koshino's innocent or unintended actions such as these had such an impact on him. He had been thinking about him ever since he entered the shop. He had gone to the library at quarter to seven to finish off his research. By ten, he hit the malls, searching for appropriate gifts for his friends, including the boys of the flower shop. He managed to buy decent but not very expensive gifts. He had spotted nice silk shirts, and bought Yoji a dark violet one, Aya a black one and Ken a maroon one and Omi a nice hat. As for Miyagi, he got him a nice bathrobe; Sendoh a nice set of pajamas and Koshino a sky blue knitted turtleneck - the most expensive gift of all. He always did make Koshino special.
Yoji caught him staring at the yellow rose. "Mit-chan?" Mitsui scowled at the nickname. Yoji never really dropped it, knowing that it annoyed Mitsui and made him look more adorable. "Did you know that every flower has a meaning?"
"It does?" Mitsui asked, forgetting about the nickname. "I thought it all meant good will, like love or happiness, or even friendship. But every flower?"
"Oh yes!" Yoji said, nodding as he picked up a dark colored iris. "For example, this iris symbolizes lies. It looks beautiful, true, but it's meaning is not. Take the yellow rose as another example." Yoji gestured to the rose Koshino had given him that was lying on the counter by the cashier, Mitsui turned to look at it, a pot of geraniums in his arms. "One would think that it means happiness or maybe luck or something like that. But it doesn't. A yellow rose signifies hidden truth and unspoken apologies."
Mitsui's grip on the pot slipped, the pot crashing on the ground in an unceremonious heap, the loud crash bringing silence. Mitsui stood still, rooted to that very spot. Omi had given out a yelp, and dashed to get the broom and an empty bag. Mitsui shook his head, and forced himself to reality. "Sorry." He said, bending down to pick up the remains of the plant. "It slipped."
"Mit-chan." Yoji said seriously, gaining Mitsui's attention. "When a pot of plant falls, and the pot is broken in to three pieces, it means misfortune." Yoji looked at the pot that lay in front of Mitsui. "Your pot is in three pieces. It's a bad omen."
Mitsui suddenly felt numb.
*
Evening fell, and it was Mitsui's turn to make dinner. They had taken the time to divide the weeks during holidays such as Christmas to each person in making dinner. Lunch and breakfast was always done outside, and nobody really ate much in those two meals of the day. Dinner was probably the only thing that brought them together, despite their separate ways.
It was already eleven by the time Mitsui had finished cooking. He had forgotten that it was his turn and if Miyagi hadn't knocked on his bedroom - mind you, he was very pissed when Miyagi had interrupted his studying time - he would have forgotten about dinner completely. So, as much as he hated cooking, Mitsui did it anyway. He simply made some baked pasta and some chicken and served them with cold beer. Sendoh and Miyagi said nothing, and when it became very awkward, Sendoh broke the silence.
"So any plans for Christmas?" He gave everyone a smile.
Mitsui took the opportunity to tell them about his 'resolution'. "Maybe we should all have Christmas dinner together on the evening before Chrismas. You know, like tradition? By midnight, we can exchange our gifts, if any!" He gave them a joking look, and they all chuckled. "It would be a good change." Mitsui stared at his glass of beer. "It's just that -" He closed his eyes for a while. "We are never together anymore."
Silence fell again. "That's a brilliant idea, Mitsui-san!" Miyagi said, grinning from ear to ear. Obviously, he too must have felt the same. Even though he had a lover and was getting married soon, having friends and being with them is a totally different matter all together. "Then on Christmas morning, all four of us can go and play basketball! It would be great fun!"
"I agree, love!" Sendoh said, nodding with his smile getting brighter by each passing millisecond. "We can go ice skating after that!"
"And hit the carnival!" Mitsui felt his heart lightening and quickening with excitement. It all sounded too good.
Dinner was forgotten as the three got engaged in to a long conversation of the things they could do together. It sounded endless, and never have they spoken together with such ease and no trouble of having to look for the right words. It felt as if they were all in high school again. In between their never-ending conversation, they ate ice cream and drank warm cocoa drinks. Cookies came in between and then chips. Time went by so quickly, that none of them knew. They just treasured their moment with each other as equal young men, tossing away all differences and their separate paths.
"Does Koshino know all this?" Sendoh suddenly asked. Miyagi turned to look at Mitsui, and both waited for his reply.
Mitsui did not dare meet their eyes. He turned to look at a half-empty packet of Doritos. "No. Not like the way we discussed it."
"Why didn't you tell him?" Miyagi asked, noticing Mitsui discomfort and the faraway look in his midnight eyes.
"How could I?" Mitsui asked. "He's so -" Mitsui quickly bit his lower lip to prevent any wrong words from coming out of his mouth.
"He's so what, Mitsui-san?" Miyagi pressed on. Sendoh's hand gently landed on Miyagi's leg, an indication that he must not ask anymore.
"He's so close, yet so far." Mitsui said, leaving it to that.
"I understand." Sendoh said, obviously noticing the drastic change Koshino faced. He was his best friend in high school, but only till high school. Sendoh did not know the stranger now called Koshino Hiroaki. None of them did anymore. "We'll tell him together. Wouldn't that be better?"
Mitsui looked up and gave Sendoh a sincere smile. "That would be good."
"Oh my gosh! It's two already? We we're talking for that long?" Miyagi exclaimed, his eyes landing on the kitchen clock.
"It didn't fell long at all!" Sendoh said, smiling and snatching the bag of Doritos. "Hey, I was just thinking. We discussed on what to do for Christmas. But this place needs the Christmas feeling. We haven't got a tree yet!"
"There's one in my room. Packed in a box that is." Mitsui said. "We can use that!"
"And candy canes and stockings!" Miyagi said happily, eyes shining. "Oh it would be like home!"
Again, the three launched in to another long exciting conversation. They would cook for Christmas, all of them splitting the courses of the meal. Miyagi said that he would the appetizers, while Mitsui handled the dessert and Sendoh the main course. They debated between meat and seafood, and of course, since Sendoh was a specialist with seafood, they would have that. It sounded strange, but the idea was good. Mitsui knew how to make different flavored pies and cakes, so he would just make assorted ones. Miyagi refused to say what he would make, but did say that it would be nice. He was not much of a cook. They all agreed in baking Christmas cookies tomorrow. Studying will be put off for the next five days at least. Their minds needed the time off, so spending it together like the family way would be the best thing. The house needed cleaning up and decorating anyway, and what better way is there to accomplish them than doing it together and having fun with each other's presence?
"Don' forget the mistletoes!" Sendoh said, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Nobody gets to eat the cookies of the tree!" Mitsui warned. "We do that after breakfast!"
"I will make breakfast on Christmas morning!" Miyagi said, raising his hand up to emphasize his point.
"Oh you sure will! I know your-" Sendoh was cut off his sentence when a loud thump was heard. "What was that?"
"Someone upstairs?" Miyagi suggested, though the sound irked him.
"Nobody is above us, you moron!" Mitsui said annoyed. He suddenly felt very uncomfortable. He looked behind him. "It came from outside."
"It must be the guys next door moving something heavy. It's Christmas. They must be trying to sneak in a big present or something." Miyagi said, shrugging, pushing away the tension in the air.
"I don't know." Mitsui said. They sat in silence for a few minutes, before Mitsui's nagging feeling won over him. "I'll go have a look."
The two nodded as Mitsui stood up and headed for the door. He opened it and silence met him. He stepped out when a bloody hand zoomed in front of him and landed on his shoulder. Mitsui gave out a terrified gasp. He stumbled out in the open, staggering back in to the silent hallway of their apartment away from the door.
What greeted him was the sight of a very blue young man. His clothes were bloodied, but his fingers and bare toes, along with his lips and eyes were blue and numb from cold. He was dirty, sticky and wet from the snow outsides, all this mixing with blood from wounds hidden underneath crumpled and undone clothes. He was beyond recognizable. He tried to speak, but not words came out of the parted blue lips. Mitsui was covered in blood from his front. His eyes were wide in fear. He was scared, and never had this creepy fear bubbled up inside him. His heart raced, his mind blank and his breathing was rapid. The eyes of the young man in front of him rolled back, as he collapsed on Mitsui. The walls of their hallways were smeared with blood, obviously from the man's hands that used it as a support to remain standing. There was a huge puddle of blood by the stairs, in which he must have fallen, hence the loud thump they all heart. There were drops of blood that trailed from the puddle up till Mitsui's standing point, and there was a slow growing puddle around them at that current second.
Mitsui shut his eyes tight and as loud as he can, screamed. His scream alerted everyone in their building - basically his two companions and the guys from the flower shop. Miyagi took a step back and fainted at the sight. Sendoh remained frozen. The guys next door threw their doors open and gasped at the sight. Mitsui began to shake his head; his limbs refusing to cooperate and did not move.
"Oh god! Oh god!" Mitsui screamed louder. "No! No!" He gave out loud desperate cries for the body on top of him to be lifted. "Koshino! No! No! Oh god! No!" Mitsui's voice was already fading from his loud screams. The sight of Koshino scared him so much that he was going crazy. "
Aya and Yoji, the ones with strong minds immediately snapped back to reality and picked up the body of Koshino and quickly carried it to his bedroom. Sendoh took Miyagi once the body was out of his range of sight and laid the unconscious man on the couch of their home. Ken rushed to get some sedatives, since Mitsui was literally tearing his hair out. Omi had gone to clean the blood off their stairs and walls before anyone got suspicious.
"Mitsui! Calm down!" Ken hissed, taking out a syringe with clear liquid. "Hold still!" He hissed.
Sendoh appeared and held Mitsui from behind, who immediately began to kick and punch, struggling like a wild and angry in the arms of the taller boy. Mitsui kicked in every direction, his bare and now bloodied feet landed on Ken's stomach, causing the young man to double back in pain and drop the syringe in to the puddle of blood.
"Damnit!" Sendoh cursed. "Mitsui-san, stop it!" He hissed, but Mitsui would not hear any of it. His pupils were dilated and all he saw was blood and Koshino. Mitsui became more hysteric when the sight of Koshino plagued his mind.
Aya appeared at the doorway and with a side-hand chop, knocked Mitsui out, his figure slumping in Sendoh's arm. "Come. Help me carry him." Aya coldly said, but his voice hid worries. Sendoh nodded and helped Aya carry Mitsui's unconscious form next door. Aya turned the lights on in his bedroom, and stripped Mitsui off his clothes. "Do you know any doctor that can come in this late hour?" Aya asked, as he took out a damp white towel and cleaned Mitsui's face from the foreign blood that clung on to it.
Sendoh pondered. "Mitsui goes to this orthopedic to get his knee checked all the time." Sendoh suddenly said. He remembered seeing Dr. Hajime once.
"Good!" Aya said, and wiped the blood off Mitsui's feet and arms. "Get his phone number."
Sendoh nodded and rushed out to look for it in Mitsui's phonebook. He found the number easily and came out again, ignoring Ken who was carrying an armful of bloody towels from Koshino's bedroom. He gave it to Aya who had Mitsui dressed in a robe and his boxers only and tucked in to his very own bed. Aya took the cordless phone on his bedside table and punched the number in. Sendoh watched Mitsui asleep, no longer struggling. It was a shock to him. He never knew that Mitsui could act like that. Aya's voice brought him back from his thoughts.
"A life of another is at stake! If you know what's best for you, you will come here right now with proper utensils!" Dr. Hajime was obviously arguing. "This is important! We can't bring him to the hospital! Just come! Here's the address!" Aya gave him the address. "Do it fast!" Aya stopped as the other side spoke. "You're Mitsui's doctor aren't you? Then you know what's good for him and his friends. So come here! Now!" Aya hung up. "Bring Miyagi here. You three stay here, until everything is fixed. Go on!"
Once again, Sendoh left the florist's apartment and fetched his unconscious lover. When he returned, Aya had two mats lain on the floor beside the bed, along with pillows and blankets. There was no need for words. Sendoh lay Miyagi on one side of the mat and covered him the blanket. He then closed the door of the room, leaving the two unconscious friend and lover in their dreamless sleep. He went in to the hallway and helped Omi clean the blood. He was not yet ready to see the state of his best friend.
Not just yet.
*
Dr. Hajime and two nurses came ten minutes later. Aya led him to Koshino's best friend and the doctor was baffled. He was paralyzed for a moment and did not know what to do. One of the nurse was a petite young - nurse Aori Umeda - woman with shoulder length dark hair and a thin frame, her brown eyes hidden behind specs. The other was a slightly taller woman, - nurse Yume Hotaru - who was heavy boned, had boyish cut brown hair and serious black eyes.
"Fucking hell, don't just stand there!" Yoji snapped, anger visible in his green eyes.
"Right!" Dr. Hajime dropped his black brief case on the table of Koshino's room and opened it, starting to sort out his things. "I need towels. Get me all the towels you have. Make it quick! Is there no heater here? It's freezing!" He took pulled on gloves. "I need more light! Close the curtains!" Yume drew the curtains. "I need this room disinfected! Especially around his body!" Aori opened another briefcase that she was carrying and took out a spray of disinfectant, quickly and heavily spraying the small room with the entire can. The smell of hospital filtrated the room.
Aya appeared with all sources of light he could find, from emergency lights to camping flashlights. He brought in lamps and took their tops off, leaving only the light bulb within to be lit. The room was very bright by the time Aya had all the lights brought in. Aori, Yume and Dr. Hajime were now busy cutting off Koshino's clothes, in a very patient and slow manner, so as to avoid making his wounds worse. Yoji appeared a few minutes later, carrying an armful of towels in a range of different colors. He rushed out again and came back a few seconds later with another armful of towels.
"Okay! Now I need hot water." Yoji and Aya rushed out to get hot water. They returned minutes later with two bucket full of water. "I need two empty basins! If you have extra cotton, please bring them. Other wise find me some! What I have will not be enough! I need bandages and rubbing alcohol!"
"Didn't you come prepared?" Aya hissed.
"If you told me that this was the situation, I would have! But you did not!" Dr. Hajime said in silent annoyance.
Aya rushed out to find the things Dr. Hajime asked for. He found none. He summoned Sendoh and handed him a handful of yen bills. "Go to the twenty- four hour drugstore and buy as much cotton, bandages and rubbing alcohol as you can. Take Ken with you to help you carry the things. Hurry!"
Sendoh nodded and rushed out of their building with Ken. Aya helped Omi continue scrubbing the stairs and walls clean from the blood and dirt. Yoji remained by the Doctor's side, who was now examining Koshino's body. "His left wrist is broken, along with three of its fingers. His right hand is sprained. He has five fractured ribs, a broken ankle and his two broken toes. There is a crack on his scapula, and cuts on his head, wrists, thighs and chest. His back is bruised completely. His lips were split, along with his temples and neck. Entire face is swollen and bruised. His anus is split open, and his penis is swollen and cut. His testicles needs stitches, since it has -" Dr. Hajime examined Koshino's anatomy and his lips thinned. "Bite marks." Yoji winced, trying to control his anger. Who could have done this to Koshino? "His entire body reeks with semen." He looked up at Yume and Aori. "Clean up his body, avoid the cuts."
The two nurses took the towels and dipped them in to the hot water and with slow and gentle movements, but fast and accurate, they began to clean Koshino's body, wiping off the white and sticky fluid of unknown human beings and tossing the used towel in to a pile beside the bed once it was already covered and soaking in blood. The process took half an hour and by then, Ken came in to the room with two big bags of doctor's needs.
"Sendoh is outside. He does not want to come in." He mumbled at Yoji and left to help Sendoh clean their building. Yoji left the room. He was no longer needed.
Dr. Hajime took his syringe and filled it with antibiotics, injecting Koshino in every cut and wound on his thin body. That done, started with his head. He asked one of the nurses to turn Koshino's body to his side and the other to wipe his head with a wet towel to get rid of the dirt. He took out a cotton ball soaked in alcohol from the hospital and swabbed it over the open cut on the side of his head. He then stitched it closed and bandaged it. He then proceeded to do the same on Koshino's face. It was a ritual, wiping the blood and semen off, disinfecting it with alcohol, the bruises and cuts more visible than ever. Koshino's entire face was covered in white bandage by the time Dr. Hajime was done with it. He moved on to his neck, and cleaned the cuts, applied some ointment that he brought from the hospital and wrapped the thin neck in bandages. Next was his chest, which had deep welts on what looked like - whip and heel marks. The flesh was sunken and dark in color. Dr. Hajime had winced at the sight, but said nothing. He nursed the deep cuts and stitched them, later on attending to the light ones, and then bandaged them. Koshino's wrists came next, and they were cleaned and stitched closed, and attached to it was a metal rod, that held it straight in order for the bone to heal. It would have to do for now, until Dr. Hajime returns with proper materials.
He fixed up Koshino's arms and hands, and cleaned his back, putting some ointment on the deep and colorful bruises that painted the youth's back. Next came the complicated task. He signaled the nurse to lift Koshino's legs up a bit, as he cleaned his torn entrance with disinfectant. Even though Koshino was asleep, he had injected him with anesthesia. There was a very small possibility that he might wake up, but Dr. Hajime was not taking any chances. He stitched the torn tissue together and cleaned it once more. He did the same to his penis and testicles, bandaging the stitches. Once the anatomy was done, the task was much lighter. He was extra careful with Koshino's privates since it was the most damaged part of all. He had done the same ritual on his legs, extra careful on his broken ankle.
Five hours later, Dr. Hajime was done. He came out of the room, his two nurses behind him. "It's all right." He said, massaging his temples. "I'll have to come back tomorrow with the proper things. I fixed him up the best I can."
Ken and Omi went inside and cleaned the room, getting rid of the bloodied towels and buckets of crimson colored water that were used. They returned back in once they discarded those things and went back to cleaning. Dr. Hajime was giving Aya and Yoji the things to do during his absence till the next evening.
The five boys cleaned the apartment, and then left. Sendoh then took the opportunity to look at Koshino and wish that he hadn't.
Koshino was literally in bandages. Even if his skin were exposed, he would only see either a welt or a very ugly bruise. The sight of him brought tears to his eyes. He could not bear to even look. He clenched his fists, dipping his head.
"Why?" He mumbled, gritting his teeth. "Why did you do this Koshino? Why?"
Now he knew why Koshino changed. Sendoh was just thinking on how Mitsui was going to take it. If the sight of Koshino drove him mad, what would happen to him if he found out the cause behind it all? Sendoh could only cover his mouth and sink on his knees, sobbing lightly. Yoji came and placed a hand on Sendoh's shoulders, as he cried. Not out of pity, but out of friend ship loss and helplessness.
Why was no longer a question.
TBC
I know we are supposed to be happy during Christmas, but this is going on for too long. I had to bring up this scene, and I can't keep on writing about every year in two chapters. It will sound clichéd. More details, more excitement, and more drama later. Till next time!