Prologue
Hush and Stop Crying
***
"Dr. Takamiya, you're needed at room 312. Please proceed immediately." A voice faintly echoed behind the wooden doors, jarring the silence that lingered heavily in the four corners of the room.
A few moments passed, and it was eerie still once more.
Tendrils of moonlight, soft and ethereal, permeated through the glass panels of the window. It touched his face, caressed his youthful features, and bathed his reddish flame of a hair down to the white sheets curled at his waist with a delicate glow.
How he wished his dad, or just anyone was here with him. Unfortunately, his father had some important matters to attend to, although he promised to return quickly.
It was not a big deal. Really.
Solitude was a burden for one as young as him- something that he got used to in a short span of time. He's an only child with his mother gone; away to some place his father claimed she was happy. He never understood the words, what they meant or any of its implications. He dared not ask anything more; his mind cannot process any of those at such age. Though he knew that she'd never, ever, be coming back.
He had no idea why he's in the unfamiliar room in the first place. White. Almost everything around the room is white. The bed sheets, the walls and even the ceiling. The sterile ambiance reeked obtrusively, adding up to the dullness that evoked feelings of sheer boredom. His hyper nature rebelled at the stiff silence that was deafening in intensity.
"Sniff...Sniff." Again, a peculiar noise pierced the silence, though this time it seemed much closer.
Opening his eyes, revealing warm amber orbs, the thought of investigating the origin of the sound crossed his mind.
"Sniff...Sniff..." Yes, Definitely closer. Curious, the boy sat up on his bed, pristine white sheets pooling around his small waist with a soft rustle. He turned his head, searching for the source of the sound that resembled painfully stifled sobs.
He squinted his eyes as if doing so would make them see well. However, the translucent material of the partition made it difficult to actually see through the other side of the room. He could only make out a small figure in a bed similar to his, though the occupant seems to be wrapped in white.
A telltale shiver ran up to the base of his spine, followed by the rapid pounding of his heartbeat. Ghosts? Frightening images of the paranormal presented itself in his young mind. He vaguely recalled the ghost stories he'd heard from his friend Mito back home.
He shivered, goose bumps now grazing his skin, mirroring what he felt about his predicament.
"Sniff...Sniff..."
Now he wished his father is with him at that precise moment. In fear, he dived deep onto the sheets and covered himself. Such a childish instinct; believing that covering himself will ward off all the things that haunted him.
NO. At a sudden instant, he vehemently chastised himself. He remembered something very important. He's a 'Big Boy' now and nothing can scare him away...
"Sniff...sniff..."
...Not even ghosts, right? At this, he hesitated for a moment. Fear and desire to be brave warred, jumbling in a momentous heap.
After mustering enough courage, he stood, the long blue gown billowing softly as it flowed down his small frame. He received a jolt as his bare feet met the coldness of the tiles. Oddly enough, even the floor is colored white under the scant lighting provided by the moon.
He picked up a fluffy pillow on his bed. He reasoned that he could use it as a weapon just in case the ghosts attack him. He'd show them that he's not afraid.
He stalked slowly towards the partition, anticipation and dread churning deep in his stomach. He began to chew his lips in a nervous manner. Every step, silent as they were, appeared to be in synch with the furious pounding in his chest. Thud, thud, thud! He heard the wild chanting of his heart, cold sweat beading in his forehead.
"This is it," he breathed. He raised his shaking hands towards the plastic material. Unconsciously, he closed his eyes.
He nudged the plastic partition and stuck his head out. Slowly, very slowly, he forced his eyelids to open. Every agonizing second whirled as he braced for the unknown.
Father...
What greeted his eyes surprised him for it wasn't a ghost after all. Lying in the small bed was another boy, probably around his age, curled up in a mass of his tangled sheets and weeping for reasons unknown.
"Whew," he couldn't stifle the sigh of relief that escaped his lips. It was fortunate of him that the source of the odd noise wasn't any paranormal activity. He was terribly scared moments ago that he could practically feel himself wetting his pants. Bah!
And he didn't want to suffer the embarrassment if that occurred. Such things should not happen to boys his age. No way. Big boys don't wet their pants, babies do.
Babies...
He's not a baby anymore; he even tried to wear his father's shoes, trousers, shirt and a whole lot more. Although he's still coddled like some infant by his father, he can proudly say that he's a grown-up in his own way.
"Sniff...sniff..."
The barely stifled sobs of the boy drew him out of his reverie. Apparently, the dark-haired boy is still oblivious of his presence. Slowly, he climbed unto the bed and lifted the covers.
"Why are you crying?" he asked the other boy. Just like that- a simple question filled with unadulterated curiosity and compassion for a complete stranger.
Deep pools of blue shining with tears peered under the thick mop of black hair, meeting the other boy's eyes. The crystalline liquid flowed down to pallid cheeks, the wetness mingling with the unearthly glow accentuated by the light. For a moment, the redhead wondered if he's actually seeing a ghost or something. Weren't for the fact that he can actually touch the other boy- feel the warmth, he'd scream his lungs out.
"I'm scared." the dark-haired boy replied truthfully. His voice croaked harshly after crying so much. Such vulnerability and utter helplessness radiated from him, making him appear more fragile.
"Why?"
"'Cause the doctor will rip me in half and then, and then-" Words spawned by fear burst forth uncontrollably. He cringed at the horrors that probably await him in this hospital. "They'll poke some needles in me and then put some tubes, and then..."
"Don't be silly." The redhead cut through the incessant babbles before they continued. He resisted the sudden urge to bash his head to the other boy's just to silence him.
The dark-haired boy appeared rather scandalized than comforted. Never in his life had anyone call him 'silly', much less a stranger! Fear forgotten, he began to open his mouth to protest. "What do you mean silly?"
The redhead just brushed off the question as his lips parted and gave way to a gap-toothed grin. "The doctor won't do that." he assured. "And if they do, then I'll just have to save you."
"Really?" Suspicion hung in that single word. They didn't even know each other's names, yet the boy beside him was promising to help.
"Of course!" he grinned proudly. It was his nature to show just how tough he is.
The promise lent the raven-haired boy courage to sit up closer to the redhead. "I'm Kaede."
"I'm Hana."
Kaede sputtered, eyes opening wide. "Hana? But that's a girl's name!"
The addressed boy scowled, honey-colored eyes narrowing. "My name is Hanamichi." He clarified.
"Oh." Kaede mumbled, circling his fingers in the bed sheets. "Do you," he began slowly, embarrassed to continue the question. "Ever get scared?"
"Nope, never." Hanamichi quickly replied, his proud eyes looking at Kaede's dark-blue eyes directly. "Err...sometimes I guess," he amended, fidgeting under the intense gaze. "I get scared that I'll never grow up and be small like this forever."
"Now who's silly? We'll grow up, my mother said so," Kaede chuckled, much to Hanamichi's chagrin. "Though I wish I could be brave like you so I won't get scared by Mr. Boogie."
"Mr. Boogie?"
"Yeah," Kaede peeked under the bed, so as to confirm that Mr. Boogie isn't under the bed. "He lurks under the bed, so I hide under the covers when Mom turns the light off."
"Oh," Hanamichi said. "Well, there's no need to be scared. I'm here." He plopped the pillow he intended to use against the 'ghost' earlier beside Kaede's. "I'll stay with you."
Truth be told, he was also disturbed by the raven-haired boy's story that the idea of returning to his own bed is not an option. He felt undeniably comforted by the fact that he's not alone in the room.
"Thanks," Kaede sprawled on his belly, chin propped in one hand. His bare feet went up in the air and another second later, he hooked one ankle behind another and began to bounce them slightly. "Wow..."
"What?" Hanamichi frowned in puzzlement.
"What a strange hair. It's red," he murmured, stroking the short crimson-colored locks. After a few moments, he petted the strands before yawning. Now that his fear lessened to a smaller degree, he can feel himself drifting off to sleep.
"My dad said I got it from mom." Hanamichi said, yawning widely. "C'mere." He gestured the other boy to lie beside him. When Kaede snuggled closer, the redhead draped an arm around him.
"Mrmm..." Kaede felt his eyelids droop as sleep began to embrace him.
"Kaede?" Hanamichi asked. The only response he received is the soft snoring of his companion. Snuggling closer, he closed his eyes as well. "G'night."