AN: I know I know, I should have updated before this, but I kept getting stuck and school was hectic this week. And with finals looming just a few weeks ahead, I may only be updating on weekends -_- Anyway, the plot starts pickin up after this chapter! I'm thinking maybe 8 - 10 parts... but that's just based on what I have planned so far so that could change hehe
Oh, I almost forgot *hands pocky over to Recowa, No. 9, and dJeu* ^-^ Thankies! I appreciate the encouragement more than you think!
Translations: ~Not retyping ones from previous chapters~
Ch' - Damn/Shit, in this case sort of just a 'yeah right' type thing... ^-^
Posted: April 25, 2003
Part Three
When Shuichi awoke late the next morning, he found himself hugging a pillow to his chest tightly, Yuki apparently already having been up and out of bed for a while. He rolled over and stretched, yawning loudly. He lie there staring at the ceiling for a few moments before finally getting up to take a shower.
Feeling better after having done that and changed, he grabbed his wet clothes out of the sink and threw them in the washer before heading into the kitchen, pausing by Yuki's study to peek in. The author sat with his chin in one hand, his other idly tapping at a key as he looked at the screen of his laptop. Shuichi smiled at the sight before his stomach growled, reminding him of his mission.
When he got to the kitchen, he tossed a couple pieces of bread into the toaster and poured himself a glass of milk. When he closed the refrigerator door after getting out the butter, he noticed a note being held onto it by a magnet.
Tell me if you want a ride, brat.
He blinked at the note before grinning madly. He took the note and folded it carefully, sliding it into a back pocket before fixing his breakfast. He ate and tossed in some more bread for Yuki before setting his dishes in the sink and pouring a glass of orange juice. After fixing the toast and putting everything away he made his way back towards Yuki's study.
Finding the taller man in the same position, he sneaked in quietly, setting the food down in front of him. Yuki leaned back in his chair and glanced at the food then up at Shuichi, waiting for the unpredictable boy to speak. Shuichi grinned and climbed into his lap, straddling his hips as he leaned their foreheads together.
"Yu~ki~, I kne~w you loved me~," he sang.
"Ch'."
"But since it's not raining, I think I'll walk today, ne?" he continued, ignoring Yuki's comment. "Ja~, itte kimasu!" He tilted his head and nipped Yuki's ear before running out of the room with a laugh.
"Baka..." muttered Yuki; he could have sworn he had seen a tail and cat ears on the boy when he had run out of the room. Hearing the front door close a moment later, he reached over for a piece of toast before starting the next chapter of his newest novel.
Shuichi hummed to himself as he hurried down the street. He couldn't believe how much Yuki had changed towards him. Of course, to anyone else, it would seem he was still being cold as a stone, but Shuichi had noticed the little things he had started doing. For one, Yuki would never have left a note for him even just a month ago. Sure, he may have been wheedled, begged, and harassed into taking Shuichi to the hospital, but he wouldn't have given any indication that he would be willing to do it.
He sighed happily. He had a strong feeling that today would be good. He was absolutely certain Hiro was going to recover one hundred percent; Dr. Kinno had assured him that Hiro wasn't going to die, and he fully believed her. The night before seemed like a barely remembered nightmare in comparison to the new day. He was a little worried about him losing his memory though, but he knew sooner or later he would get it back. He just prayed that he would still remember how to play guitar if that happened.
He found himself at the hospital sooner than he had expected and quickly made his way to Hiro's floor.
"Shindou-kun?"
He looked up at the call of his name and found the nurse who had taken him to see Hiro the night before. She made her way towards him with a smile on her face. "Good news, Shindou-kun. Nakano-kun was just moved to a new room," she said, handing him a piece of paper with a number scribbled on it. "He's now two floors below."
Shuichi's eyes brightened and he happily took the paper. "So he's going to be ok?! He doesn't have amnesia? Does that mean he could leave earlier? Is he awake? Can I see him?"
She laughed as he fired off his questions at a mile a minute. "Nakano-kun is going to be just fine. About the amnesia, there's still a possibility. The only way he could leave earlier is if he suddenly found the ability to do jumping jacks tonight. He was awake before they moved him, there's a chance he still is. You can see him anytime you want," she replied just as quickly.
She smiled. "Come on, I'll show you to his room so you don't get lost," she said, leading him down a series of hallways. When she stopped in front of a door some minutes later, she turned around with a grin. "Ja, here we are!"
"Thanks-," he stopped and blinked, realising he didn't know her name. "Er, what's your name again?" he asked.
"You can call me Nami," she replied with a smile.
"Hai. Thank you, Nami-san."
She shook her head. "Just Nami, and you're welcome!" She nodded to the door. "You're the first one here today, so I'll leave it to you to inform the others that there shouldn't be more than three in the room with him at a time." She bowed before heading back down the hall when he nodded in understanding.
He turned and quietly opened the door and stepped inside, closing it softly behind him.
"Hey, Shu-chan," came a quiet voice from the bed.
Shuichi looked over in surprise. "Hiro! You're awake!" he cried happily, bounding over to the other boy. He gladly noted that both the heart monitor and oxygen mask were gone, though there was still an IV steadily dripping clear liquid into his arm. When he got closer, he found Hiro had a little more colour to him, not like the pale look he had had the night before.
"You look better. Are you feeling okay?" he asked, glancing over him with a slightly creased eyebrow.
"Shuichi," Hiro said, sensing a questionnaire getting ready to start.
"Are you hungry? I can see if they'll bring you something."
"Shuichi..."
"I know! As soon as you're released, I'm taking you out for ice-cream! Yu~m, strawberry ice-cream..."
"Shuichi!"
Shuichi blinked and looked at him before grinning sheepishly and putting his hand behind his head. "Gomen... I got carried away, huh?"
"Just a little," he replied with a small smile, wincing slightly as he shifted on the bed.
Shuichi frowned in concern and was about to launch another series of questions when there was a knock on the door. He turned to find Sakano and Suguru entering the room.
"Nakano-kun! Thank goodness you're alive!" cried Sakano, trying to keep himself relatively under control. Shuichi glanced at the window to make sure it was tightly shut.
"I don't know about the being alive part; I feel like death warmed over," joked Hiro with a quirk of his lips. He glanced at Suguru, who was standing quietly by the door. The corners of his mouth turned down slightly as confusion flitted across his face. "I'm sorry, but do I know you?"
All three of them froze when he posed the question, glancing at each other in concern.
"Ne, Hiro, are you sure you don't know him?" asked Shuichi, trying to ignore the panic he felt rising inside him.
Hiro looked at him, eyes narrowed slightly in concentration. "I don't..." He shook his slowly after a few moments. He looked back at Suguru with an apologetic smile. "Sorry... guess I got hit on the head harder than I thought..." he laughed.
"But Hiro-!"
"It's alright, Shindou-san," interrupted Suguru, before the boy could say something to upset Hiro any further. "I'll go get the doctor," he added, disappearing out the door.
Hiro sighed and carefully lifted a hand to rub his forehead when the boy was gone. "I have a feeling I should have known him..." he muttered.
"Hiro, are you okay?" asked Shuichi, moving closer to him.
Hiro glanced up at him with a slight smile. "I'm fine, my head just started hurting that's all." Shuichi opened his mouth to argue with him, but Hiro quickly cut him off. "I'm fine, Shuichi," he said again, part annoyed, part amused, and part thankful for his friend's concern.
"H-hai..."
The door opened again a moment later and Dr. Kinno stepped in, followed by Suguru. She went straight over to pick up a clipboard and briefly flipped through the pages. After making a few notations, she looked up at Hiro with a smile. "How are you feeling, Nakano-san?"
Hiro shrugged. "I have a small headache, my shoulder hurts, and this IV is driving me crazy..."
She laughed lightly and pushed her glasses up. "Not a picky patient at all, are you?" she asked, making a few more notes. "Nakano-san, what is the last thing you remember? If you can't remember right away, don't force yourself."
He nodded and closed his eyes briefly. "I remember... that Shuichi and I were supposed to meet with Seguchi Touma..." He stopped and shook his head. "That's all I remember before seeing Shuichi last night... but I have a feeling he was late to the meeting," he added with a wry smile.
"Hey!" Shuichi objected.
Dr. Kinno smiled at Hiro before she turned to the other three. "If you three will please come with me...?" she asked, turning to leave the room. When they stepped out after her, she gently closed the door and looked to Shuichi. "Shindou-san, how long ago did the event he described take place?"
Shuichi bit at his lip worriedly; he had hoped this wouldn't happen. "About three months... give or take a week or two..." he replied quietly.
Dr. Kinno sighed and wrote something on the clipboard. "It seems Nakano-san has developed a mild case of amnesia. I think it would be better that only those he knows be allowed to visit him until he is released. Shindou-san, if he asks, you may fill him in on anything you feel he should know, but please be careful not to give him too much information too quickly. If he starts trying to force himself to remember it could only make it worse.
"After he is released, it may help him to regain his memory by spending time with those he doesn't have any recollection of. Other than that, he's recovering well and should still be out by the end of the week." Seeing them nod in quiet understanding she took her leave. She patted Shuichi on the shoulder as she passed. "Don't worry Shindou-san, mild amnesia usually doesn't last for that long..."
Shuichi looked up with a grateful smile and nodded. "Can I...?" he motioned to Hiro's door.
"Of course," she answered with a smile.
When he reentered the room, he immediately felt Hiro's eyes on him. He looked up with a bright smile as he made his way over to the bed.
"Shuichi. I know something is going on, don't you dare try to hide it from me."
Shuichi sighed and looked down, idly picking at the fuzz on Hiro's blanket. "They say you have mild amnesia..."
"I sort of figured... My head feels hazy and it hurts to think about it..." He sighed and closed his eyes. A silence fell between them until he spoke up again. "So what's happened that I should know about...?"
"...Kinno-sensei said not to tell you too much at once... so how about I tell you a little everyday? And then by the time you're ready to leave, you'll be pretty much caught up?!"
Hiro gave a small smile. "Sounds fine to me," he replied, settling in to let Shuichi fill in his memory.
"Tadaima!" called Shuichi as he walked into the apartment late that night. He had stayed as long as he could at the hospital, filling Hiro in on what he could, mostly on little things that were more or less every day occurrences. He hadn't mentioned anything about Yuki though, or Ayaka. He figured he would wait a few days before telling him about them.
He looked up at the sound of water running in the kitchen and went to investigate. He tilted his head slightly when he walked in and found Yuki rinsing off a few dishes. "Yuki?" he asked.
The author turned off the water and picked up a towel to dry the plate with. "Your dinner is in the oven."
Shuichi smiled and went to retrieve said food, finding a plate full of chicken and noodles. He grabbed a fork and sat his plate down on the cabinet before grabbing a bottle of coke out of the fridge. He sat down to eat, watching as Yuki pulled out a beer and leaned on the bar across from him. He frowned slightly, but didn't say anything, instead looking down at his food.
"Hiro should be out of the hospital by the end of the week..." he said quietly. "But he lost his memory, so he doesn't remember anything past when we were first getting started..." He poked at his food, not feeling that hungry even though he hadn't eaten since that morning.
Feeling eyes on him, he glanced up to find Yuki looking at him with an unreadable look on his face. Shuichi suddenly had the urge to look in a mirror to make sure he hadn't grown a third eye on his forehead. He looked back down at his food with a slight blush; he hated how Yuki always managed to make him do that just by looking at him. 'At least I found a weakness with his ear,' he thought with a small smirk, taking a bite and finding he was actually quite hungry before he started shoveling it into his mouth.
Yuki raised an eyebrow slightly at the smirk on the boy's lips and took a drink of his beer. He didn't think he would ever understand Shuichi; the boy switched moods more rapidly than a woman on PMS in his opinion. He glanced down to find the plate clean a few moments later and took it to the sink to wash it. Looking back, he found the pink haired boy had unfolded a familiar piece of paper and was reading it. He went to pick up his beer and poured the rest down the sink before going to his study.
Shuichi sighed with a small smile on his face as he reread the note before getting up and going into the living room. He pulled out a small box from under the couch and placed the note inside a notebook, where he kept a journal of anything and everything. After making his entry for the day he put it back, slid the box back under the couch, and went in search of Yuki.
He found the author in his study, shutting off his laptop and sitting back in his chair. Shuichi crept into the room and pounced on him with a laugh, jumping into his lap to nuzzle his neck. "Yu~ki~. I missed you~."
"I couldn't tell," he replied dryly.
Shuichi sat back and pouted at him, idly tracing a finger over Yuki's chest. "Didn't you miss me...?"
'More than I'll ever admit,' he thought, reaching out to grasp the boy's chin and pull him forward for a kiss.
Shuichi grinned when he pulled away. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Brat," he replied, standing and picking him up to carry him into the bedroom.
"You kno~w you love me," he shot back, wrapping his arms around the man's neck and closing his eyes in contentment. He was asleep even before Yuki got them both settled into bed for the night. "'Night, Yuki," he mumbled, wrapping his arms around his waist and resting his head on his shoulder before drifting back into sleep.
